NEED FOR HEMP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 138, 24 March 1942, Page 5

NEED FOR HEMP.

APPEAL TO OWNERS OF FLAX. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 23. An appeal to occupiers of land who have flax growing to co-operate with the Government in answering a call from the British Government for supplies of hemp, was made by the Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to-night. The Minister said that because supplies of hard fibres, previously supplied in largo quantities from the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies were now unobtainable, he had received an urgent inquiry from the British Government and from the Empire Advisory Committee on Raw Materials in Washington regarding the supply of phormium hemp for war purposes. Mr Sullivan said that in previous years New Zealand had shipped substantial quantities of New Zealand hemp to the United Kingdom, and in tho last war the Dominion supplied a grand total of 119,279 tons. However, the New Zealand industry had declined with the decreased overseas demand over a period of years, and at present urgent inquiries * are being made to ascertain if there was Sufficient green leaf in Now Zealand to keep the rope and twine industry in operation, and manufacture woolpaeks and other spun products. “I am confident, however, that there is a substantial quantity of green leaf growing in the farming areas of the lominion, and therefore I have asked land occupiers to notify tho Department of Industries and Comerco of the approximate tonnage of loaf growing, the distance to the nearest railhead or transport loading point, and whether the owners are prepared to cut and deliver green leaf. “Arrangements can be made to purchase the leaf on a reasonable basis,’ added Mr Sullivan, “and suppliers will thus make an important contribution to the war effort,” .