FLAX FIBRE INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 4

FLAX FIBRE INDUSTRY.

WHAKATANE ENTERPRISE. EXTENSIVE PLANTATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WHAKATANE, this day. A definite start has been made by the amalgamated llax companies of the district to commence the manufacture of flax fibre in a portion of the freezing works building which the company acquired for the purpose some two or three years ago. Two stripping machines have been landed at the site and are being fitted into the concrete building. A certain amount of structural alteration to the three-storey building is necessary to convert it to its new use, and plans are now being made to carry out the work. Mr. C. Ingram, who lias had practically a life experience in flax manufacturing in the Manawatu and Bay of Plenty districts, has been appointed manager of the works, while Mr. H. A. Bunn will continue to act as plantation manager. It is expected that the work of preparing the buildings and installing the necessary machinery will occupy about two months, and when manufacturing operations commence employment will be given to 25 hands. The companies concerned in the inanufacturing project are Flax Fibre, Limited, Flax Plantations, Limited, and Flax Investments, Limited, all of which arc in possession of flax plantations ill this district. The aggregate area planted is some 2200 acres, 700 acres of which is in full bearing, having been planted about seven or eight years ago. The balance of the area. 1500 acres, is in an advanced state of growth and will lx? ready for cutting before the present matured flax is milled. It is considered that ideal leaf will produce one ton of fibre to eight or ten tons of green flax, and that the mill in the first stages will treat up to 20 tons of green leaf per day. At that rate of cutting, it would take several years to consume the flax at present in sight, and by that time the first area cut would have produced a second growth of flax, and so keep up a perpetual supply of the raw material. An authority on the subject considers that the area growing flax in possession of the company would continually supply a large battery of strippers. It is expected that the first plantation to be operated will be the one situated on McLean's Road, which was planted prior to the year 1930. Tramlines will be laid on the plantation, bringing the flax to the road, where it will be loaded on motor lorries and transported to the mill.