USE OF N.Z. FLAX

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 88, 19 November 1935, Page 3

USE OF N.Z. FLAX

MAKING OF WOOLPACKS

In a statement made to the Ellesmere Guardian, Mr David Jones discusses the utilisation of New Zealand flax for the manufacture of woolDacks.

During a recent visit to Foxton, the members of the Executive Commission of Agriculture were afforded an opportunity of inspecting the mill and factory of New Zealand Woolpack and Textiles Ltd., which is engaged in the manufacture of woolpacks from flax fibre, he said. Hitherto, the requirements of New Zealand sheepowners for woolpacks have been met by the importation of jute packs from India. Within the last few years, however, the company has erected a large and up-to-date mill and factory at Foxton, and has had installed the latest plant and machinery. During its earlier stages the company was compelled to undertake a considerable amount of experimental work, in order to enable it to produce a pack that would combine the strength of flax fibre with the other qualities that are desirable in a good woolpack. The initial difficulties have now been overcome, and the factory is turning out daily nearly a thousand packs of excellent quality. Earlier in the present year, samples were sent to Bradford where they were submitted to close tests and examination by the British Wool Federation, which agreed to offer no objection to the use of the New Zealand woolpack. The members of the commission spent a morning in inspecting the processes of manufacture, from the raw fibre, through the operations of softening, carding, drawing, spinning and weaving into cloth, and the subsequent operations of singeing, damping, glazing and calendering the cloth, and the making and stitching of the packs. They were impressed with the roomy, airy buildings and the efficiency of the workers and plant, and expressed their appreciation of the quality of the product. Between 600,000 and 700,000 woolpacks are required annually for the New Zealand clip, and the company is contemplating the duplication of its plant in order to supply the full requirements of the New Zealand sheepowners. At present about 208 operatives are employed in the mill and factory, and employment is afforded also to a large number of men engaged in cutting the flax and milling the fibre. The establishment of the woolpack manufacturing industry in this country is a distinct advantage to the Dominion, for, in addition to reviving the languishing flax industry, it provides a partial solution of the unemployment problem and enables the sheepowner to obtain his woolpacks locally, and so removes the necessity for his entire dependence on importations from abroad, as well as keeping his money in the country.

The New Zealand-made woolpacks are obtainable from the regular merchants at the same prices as the imported jute packs. They are made in three sizes—42, 48 and 54 inches. The commission was informed that many merchants had shown a commendable public spirit in agreeing to take a percentage of their requirements for the season from the local company, though they were already carrying full stocks of jute packs, and it was hoped that sheepowners would adopt a similar attitude when placing their orders for woolpacks, by specifying the locally-made article. The commission is satisfied that the company's improved 1935 woolpack is of excellent quality and appearance and possesses great strength, and, now that the objections of the British Wool Federation to the earlier type of pack have been successfully overcome, it has no hesitation in urging New Zealand sheepowners to encourage local industry, and to specify that half or more of their requirements for the present season shall be of New Zealand manufacture.