LINEN FIBRE INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22824, 25 September 1939, Page 11

LINEN FIBRE INDUSTRY

♦ Machinery Ordered In Britain TREATMENT OF FLAX FROM RANGIORA (FltOM OUR OIVS COIIIIESrONUKNT.) LONDON, August 30. An order was given this week by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at New Zealand House for some 14 units of machinery valued at about £ 1000. It will be used for “reaping” and treating ' .the coming season’s crop of linen flax, in the neighbourhood of Rangiora. The plant will include two im l plements for pulling or reaping the flax, and the various units for deseeding, scutching, imd retting, the process of separating the flax from the straw of the plant. If the inter•national position improves it is hoped that it will be available for shipping to New Zealand in six to eight weeks’ time. For some time past the department has been experimenting in various parts of the South Island with the production of linen flax, which has been grown in the Rangiora and Ashburton districts and in various localities to as far south as Invercargill. The present suggestion is that a semi-commercial plant should be established at Rangiora; the plant ordered should be sufficient to deal with an annual crop from 300 to 400 acres. This linen flax should not be confused with the New Zealand phprmium tenax. It grows to a height of three feet, and it has a blue flower. Its production' has been successfully accomplished on the Royal estates at Sandringham, where it was first planted at the suggestion of King George V. An indication of its success is the fact that the Sandringham, crop is being increased from 250 "acres to 1000 acres this year. Royal Crop Inspected The Sandringham crop has been inspected by Mr J. W. Hadfield, the director of fhe Agronomy Division of the Plant Research Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Christchurch. He was accompanied by Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the department, who has been in England-on a four’ months’ visit. It is hoped that the production of linen flax may eventually result in another industry for New Zealand and provide an alternative to wheat or other agricultural produce. At present there is a steady market for the fibre in England, where, until recently. Russia has boon the chief supplier. Russian exports have now ceased, and prices have tended to harden. In the event of war the fibre would become an essential product. It is used in the making of canvas duck for tents, tarpaulins, aeroplane fabric, rope, and cordage. At present it is' not proposed that the fibre should be manufactured in New Zealand into any of these materials, but with the successful establishment of the linen flax growing industry -in the Dominion it isnot unlikely that manufacturing plants might be set up. Mr Hadfield will leave England early in November to return to New Zealand, by way of Australia, towards the end of December. BREMEN NOW AT MURMANSK SOVIET EXAMINING LEGAL POSITION NEW ORLEANS, September 22. The German Consul-General (Baron Edgar von Spiegel) said the Bremen was safe at Murmansk. She had been camouflaged at sea and, crossing the North Atlantic, reached the Arctic through the Denmark Strait. The Soviet is examining -the legal aspects created by the presence of the Bremen at Murmansk. ADMIRALTY DENIES RUMOURS \ ' "" RUGBY, September 22. The Admiralty to-night issued a denial of fantastic rumours which have been in circulation in the last few days about the loss of various capital ships, in particular Hood, Renown, and Repulse. “The rumours are lying and baseless. Equally absurd are the rumours that the" Bremen has been captured.”