TREATMENT OF FLAX.

Shannon News, 18 January 1929, Page 3

TREATMENT OF FLAX.

“WASH” RESEARCH. For some time now two representatives of Oonah Ltd., 'Christchurch (Mrs Hedberg and Mr Evans) have been engaged in research work in the Manawatu district in regard to perfecting a “wash” which eliminates “paddocking” in reference to the hemp industry. Mrs Hedberg- and Mr Evans have visited the majority of the mills in the district and towards the end of last, year carried out a series of tests at White unui mill at Moutoa.

At Saturday’s meeting of the N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association, held in Foxton, Messrs Oonah Ltd., wrote thanking the President for the assistance accorded the experimenters during their visit to the Manawatu, and intimated that they had every reason to believe that, under proper conditions tlieir washes will improve the fibre and eliminate paddocking- and that they were now in the process of considering way s and means to apply the washes on a commercial basis.

The President (Mr 0. 11. Spoil's) said that.-a few days ago a representative of the firm visited him at Shannon with a request that he be allowed io carry out further experimental \voi:lt at his mill at Shannon. As he had been unable to accede to the request he had suggested that he get in touch with some of the other millers.

Mr A. Seifert reported that the experimenters were now located, at Miranui where they intended stripping several tons of green blade and treating it with their new-process to eliminate paddocking. Mr Seifert also stated that a Palmerston North man had a chemical process for treating the green blade and his process was to boil the flax in a chemical solution for aboet twenty mintes, at the conclusion of which the vegetation could bo i;olled or scraped off.

Mr J. S. Moir’said that the experimenters had received assistance from tlui Department ol' Agriculture during their .sojourn at Whitaunui. The Department appeared to be very confident over the new process. Mr Seifert stated that the Department of Agriculture wa 3 evincing a good deal of interest in the flax industry and appeared to be doing what it could for it.

The hope was expressed that- some worth while process would be discovered at an early date. —Hcriald.