THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

VIEWS OF.A'MARTINBOROUGH MILLER. .

Mr. Frank Wall, who has closed down hijj' flax-mill at Martinborough, informed'.our Wairarapa correspondent that his flax"'.ares, could very well do with a year's spell, and 'aS the price ivas down now the present, seemed, the niost opportune time for the change.' It was a general opinion,' said Mr. Wall, that the flax fields renewed tl.eir growth in'three years' time. Some millers cut even at'dighteon months.'• But he was inclined totlniik that five years' growth ivas a much better period. There was more in the flax then. Thero was, moreover, sdnio reason to believo that thin fibre was, in some measure responsible for the present weak market. Tho American financial pahic Was also a 1 causo of ■ tho market depression!' Mr. Wall.does-not fear for the future'of tho industry ift N6ir Zealand; Our flax, ho said, was almost-oil tho same footing as Manila. • In some respects it was superior. F6r instance,. i the Amorican farmers had tound.that New Zealand flax as binder twine "could be, "oaten with impunity by_ stock, while tl-o -Manila binder twine \ias indigostiblo fiir almost any • beast. Mr. Wall states that lie Will surprised, to see flax £2 or £3 higher-per ton next year than now. " j ■