LINEN FLAX.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 269, 24 August 1945, Page 5

LINEN FLAX.

FINAL CROP FOR BRITAIN. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. I). G. Sullivan) announced to-day that the British Government is prepared to accept as the final crop of linen flax under the 1940 agreement 10,000 acres, to be sown by November 30, 1945. This acreage has been allocated over the various areas as follows: Blenheim 1500, Geraldine 1250, Wash dyke 2000, Winton 1000, Metliven 1500, Fairlie 1250, Makikihi 1500. The .crop will be harvested in January and February next, and the processed fibre will be shipped to Britain. It is conservatively estimated that with the fibre from the 1945 crop, New Zealand will have supplied 6770 tons of line fibre, valued at £1,554,124, and 3531 tons of tow, valued at £245,663, of a total value of £1,808,787, to the British Ministry of Supply for spinning, cordage, threads, yards, etc.' Mr Sullivan said the results of this assistance, and the development of the industry as a whole, represented an epic achievement in our contribution to helping Britain with vital war material. While helping the British war effort, we were able to make good a shortage of linen flax products that would have occurred had the industry not been commenced on New Zealand during the critical period of the war. The Minister asked farmers in the various districts to take - up the acreages allotted their particular districts, thus enabling factories to keep in operation, and retain the workers in employment until the post-war organisation which would take over the factories was in a position to do so.