MENACE TO THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 230, 23 June 1921, Page 6

MENACE TO THE FLAX INDUSTRY

RAVAGES OF YELLOvV LEAF DISEASE SERIOUS MATTER IN MANAWATU DISTRICT By Telegraph—Special Reporter. Palmerston North, Juno 22. The ravages of the yellow leaf disease in tho flax fields of the Manawatu were brought under tho notice of the Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) by a deputation of flaxniillers that waited on him at the show grounds to-day. . In introducing the deputation, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., said that the disease was becoming a. menace to this district. Only a few years back there were largo areas of beautiful flax, the industry was a ‘thriving one, and hundreds of men were provided with employment. To-day the leaf to a large extent was becoming useless, and the number of men employed was gradually becoming less. It was just a question whether the industry was going to die out altogether in this dist/rct. Already large areas of flax land were 'being utilised for dairying purposes. 41though the dairying industry was a good one, it was in tho best interests of the country that the llax industry should be maintained as well.

The Only Alternative. Mr. R. T. Bell (president of the Millers’ Association) said that they must find a remedy for the disease or turn the land into pasture. Of recent years up-to-dato mills were erected at large cost, but unless something could be done to combat successfully the disease these mills within tho next twelve months would have to be closed down, scrapped, and sold for what they were worth. He pointed out that in the Mouton Estate the yellow leaf disease had as yet got very little hold, and evou if the flax in that area could be saved much good would have been accomplished. Twenty-three years ago 23,000 acres of flax country in the Makerua district was nothing more than swamp or wilderness, but enterprising men like Mr. A. Seifert had introduced an efficient system of drainage and erected modern mills, thus making the industry there one of great importance. If the Department by means of proper tests could find some cure for the discask, it would be the salvation of the flax export trade. Mr. Bell mentioned that' a committee composed of millers’ representatives and members of the recent Science Congress held at Palmerston North had considered the yellow leaf question, and had passed a resolution advocating the establishment of a small ' experimental station with a paid investigator to conduct experiments. This* station, it was considered, should be under the control of the IDaxmilJers' Association, He asked that the Minister giv * consideration to this question. Mr. A. Seiftrt said that the committee referred to believed that there was a certain kind of leaf that was Immune from the disease. He believed this to bo true. If flaxgrowing was going to be successful it would be necessary to collect, cultivate, and supply this particular kind of flax. Ho hoped that another recommendation of the committee—that 2s. per ton be levied on all hemp exported in order to assist in the experiments proposed—would be given effect to. He considered that flaxgrowing in the Manawatu district Svould yield 40 per cent, more profit than would be gained from dairying. About 8000 acres of flax had been totally or partially destroyed. More than naif the hemp exported from Now Zealand was grown in tho Manawatu. The Minister Sympathetic.

In reply, Mr. Nosworthy said that he regretted as much as the iiaxmillers did that one of New Zealand’s primary industries, in fact, its oldest industry, was in such a shaky condition through the advent of the yellow leaf disease. It seemed that, at the present time they were up against all diseases, from fire blight down to yellow leaf. Regarding tho possibility of a kind of resistant leaf existing, he would-bo pleased to look into the matter, as well as into other proposals the deputation had brought under his notice. Every endeavour to arrive at a solution of the difficulty under which the ''towers were labouring would be made So far as financial support was concerned, they all knew that money was hard to get, but he would do his best for them. He recognised that so far as the Palmerston North district was concernd, the loss of the industry would be most severe.