THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 8

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

MILLERS ALARMED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N v , Last Night. Flaxmillers throughout the district are much concerned at Sir R. Stout's judgment that an injunction shall issue against them using waters for the discharge of flax containing green matter. Leading and responsible officers of the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association declare that there is no practicable way of Alteration, and that the stoppage of their use of river waters means a stoppage of the industry and that fifty-two mills in this district must close down directly the injunction is granted. They say that they have tried various means without success, as all forms of Alteration Jiave proved inadequate. One millei says that the outflow from his mill is 180 gallons per minute, and for every eight tons of flax treated there is six tons of green refuse which flows out with the water. They have not yet been able to find any practicable means |of stopping all of this going through, 'and, if any goes through they will be liable to damages under injunctions in the cases brought by Mr. Pearce. Dairy factories are in an equally bad case under the judgment, and various injunctions are already threatened. It is practically ceitain that legislative 'assistance will be called for to serve the industry.