GROWING LINEN FLAX

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23064, 5 July 1940, Page 11

GROWING LINEN FLAX

FARMERS OFFER 16,000 ACRES

EXCELLENT RESPONSE IN SOUTH ISLAND

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 4. South Island farmers have now more than met the request of the Government to put aside 15,000 acres for growing linen flax in response to representations recently made by the British. Government Altogether some 16,000 acres have been made available, and contracts are now being forwarded to the growers for their signatures. “Indeed, we are embarrassed by the response, for the acreage is greater than we really require and more than we have seed for,” said Mr R, B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production, in an interview to-day. The contract provides that the price paid to the farmer for straw from which seed has been taken is £4 5s a ton. The price which will be paid for seed for crops accepted will be £25 a ton, and f° r crops rejected £35 a ton. This appeared to be anomalous, Mr Tennent remarked, but where the crop was rejected the farmer had to harvest, thresh, and dress the seed, and deliver the seed into store at his own cost; while for the accepted crop the Government undertook to do the harvesting and threshing of the seed, and the dressing and delivery. Bonuses will bo given for quality crops and for crops of over the standard length of 30 inches. A maximum bonus of 5s an acre will be paid. A bonus of 5s will also be given for freedom from weeds, and a further 3s for quality straw, making total bonuses of 15s. A point made by Mr Tennent was that the Government will undertake to pull and thresh the crops, thus saving the farmer the most laborious part of the growing of linen flax. As an added incentive, a minimum guarantee of £3 an acre will be given to every farmer, even if his crop is a complete failure through drought, fire, flood, or any other reason. This should more than cover the cost of production, Mr Tennent said.