GROWING LINEN FLAX

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 94, 14 January 1939, Page 11

GROWING LINEN FLAX

Need For Caution In New Zealand

PROSPECTS CONSIDERED

PROMISING

Dominion Special Service.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 13.

That Hie greatest caution would need to be exercised, if the linen flax Industry was to be established on a Bound basis in New Zealand, was the opinion expressed by Mr. J. T. Gailey, when reviewing the prospects of the industry. Mr. Gailey, who represents several important interests in the linen industry of Great Britain and wuo Is studying the conditions of llax growth in Canterbury, has, since he arrived in New Zealand, been in consultation with the Department of Industries and Commerce on the practicability of developing Uax farming on u. commercial scale. “The growing of llax in New Zealand fol- the production of linen ns still in its experimental stages.” said Mr. Gailey. "It is not quite three years since I was last out here studying the growing of flax, and the results of growth on experimental plots since then have shown promise, which may eventually culminate in the establishment of an industry, which may assist agriculture and secondary industry. It is very difficult indeed to suggest how fap this promise can be realized on the commercial side. One can get astonishing results in the quality and tonnage an acre in laboratory tests, but I would not suggest that the prospects are more than very ingCost Not known.

“It is known today that reasonably good linen flax can be grown in New Zealand. But the cost is not known, and this will be only possible to assess after jierhaps three more years of experiment. Both the farmers and the land must be chosen carefully. At pretent there is no trained labour force, and this is best arrived at by allowing one to be built up round a gradually expanding production. Then there is the question of the treatment. At present it lias not been established which process is the,most suitable for New Zealand conditions. In some parts of Europe the flax is dew-retted, in others water-retted, and yet m other parts it may be decorticated green. A wide range of different varieties is produced by the different methods. Which one is selected will depend on such factors as the course of land values, the amount of straw to be grown, wage rates, returns to the farmer in conjunction with the quality which can be produced on a commercial scale, an unknown factor itself as yet.” AVhile his firm stood to gain no profit out of New Zealand production, it was considered by the textile interests of Great Britain as a duty to encourage Empire production, Mr. Gailey added. In the event of war not #2O per cent, of Britain’s textile raw materials might reach her shores. Her Manila hemp was grown in the Philippine Islands and the Dutch East Indies, her sisal in Mexico, the Dutch East Indies, the Caribbean, and in East Africa. “Experimental growing throughout the Empire is justifiable so; long as it is not a prey to company promotion,” Mr. Gailey concluded. “The interest that is being displayed by the Government and by farmers is very satisfying to us at Home. The development of the industry, if it can be brought about,- should be of primary importance to secondary industry in New Zealand. It should certainly lead to the extension of existing interests and the spinning of flax for New Zealand's requirements, besides the export of the raw product to overseas markets.”