NEW LINEN FLAX FACTORY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23360, 20 June 1941, Page 4

NEW LINEN FLAX FACTORY

. - +-—■. GERALDINE’S CLAIMS

"It seems a pity that the Mayor of Temuka iMr *w. H McMillan) covets the flax industry which the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) has announced will be established at Geraldine," said the Mayor of Geraldine (Mr D. C. McKeobnie) yesterday. ."It would be far more appropriate if rural towns joined hands and worked together for the ’establishment of industries in garden areas which is the- trend the world over, - <», "It is quite obvious by Mr McMillan’s statement that he has been badly misinformed," said Mr McKechnle. "There has been .«b change in the location of the factory site which has always been at the five cross toads, under a mile from the Geraldine” Borough boundary, and three miles and a quarter from Orarl* . “The site was wisely chosen by the Flax, Commission at a point the short-, est distance from the Various, areas on the Geraldine County foothllW where the fiax fibre is grown on land Ideally suited to It Just as cheese factories are established neat Temuka, In the centre; of the dairying land, so the flag factory will be. erected Jo the heart of the flax-growing areato avoid needless cartage coats and petrol wastage, Ifihe factoty were at Temuka, 10 miles from tne site -phosen, it would mean an Oxtra 20 miles of travelling w lth each load of flax. , . “The saving of transport-and local body-rates was not the only reason that decided the Flgx Commission to build in a low-rated county however,' Anyone who has a knowledge of flax ‘retting is aware of the, strong smell which accompanies the rotting of the straw In the preparation of the fibre, I am: afraid that 1 if Mr McMillan had the Industry established in theheart of his town, as he suggests, he yvoffid soon be besieged by petitions' for its removal because or the nuisance it created. “All thi? has been taken into consideration in the choice of sltee. and it is situated out of Geraldine, in a direction, where prevailing winds will not carry any smell into the town.”