THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 88, 30 August 1912, Page 5

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

EXPERIMENTS AT HOME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, Last Night. A letter has been received by the acting-president of the New Zealand FJaxinillers' Association (Mr. E. Broad) from Mr. Joseph Liggins, president of the Association, at present in Europe, in regard to the proposed bonus offered by the Government for improvements in the treatment of flax. Mr. Liggins writes that the greatest interest has been aroused, especially in Germany, and several people of scientific and practical eminence are studying the question of the spinning of yarns from the fibre. He says that such wonderful results have been obtained in the treatment of Ramie and Italian hemp that he is full of hope in regard to New Zealand fibre. He understands that the developments in regard to the treatment of jute by a similar process are still more marvellous. He refers to the difficulty of getting green flax for experimental purposes, and encloses a letter from one German scientist who has succeeded in getting a green leaf from the botanical gardens in Dresden for the purpose of studying this treatment. Other flax is being sent for from St. Helena. He says, in reference to the price of hemp, that it was £25 10s, and says that there seems to be an unaccountable shortage, which he believes is caused by the development of Italian hemp, jute and ramie in the spinning fibre. The High Commissioner secured for him from the Foreign Office credentials to various British Consuls and representatives in Europe. As the result of this and introductions which he took with him he is interesting a large number of scientists in the treatment of our' flax, from which he anticipates good results.