WOOL PACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 10

WOOL PACKS.

NEW ZEALAND FIBRE

MANUFACTURE AT FOXTON,

The manufacture at Foxton of wool packs from New Zealand flax will commence in March, according to a statement made this morning by Mr. R. •Semple, M.P. for Wellington East. The factory, lie said, was well equipped and modern in every way and operations would commence with IS looms, although there was room for the installation of 70.

"We spend between £500.000 and £000,000 111 imported .jute goods every year," said Mr. Semple, "while our flax is superior in every way. Few people realise the value of the new industry to the Dominion. Not a wool pack or sack of any kind if; manufactured in Australia or New Zealand. The Commonwealth imports packs and sacks to the value of £.5,000,000 per annum. Jf a trade agreement were readied with Australia in respect to this manufacture there would be room for 20,000 men to be employed growing and stripping flax and in manufacturing, 90 per cent of the cost being for labour. It would do much to solve the problem of unemployment."

Air. Semple said that fibre threads from the woolpacks at present in use were distributed throughout the wool in course of transportation and gave much trouble at Home. The packs made from New Zealand fibre did not possess that drawback. Sir William Massey Greene, the Commonwealth Minister of Customs and Agriculture, had informed him on the occasion of his recent visit that if the New Zealand wool pack could be placed on the Australian market at a reasonable price, none would be imported from India.