FLAX INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 14, 16 July 1937, Page 7

FLAX INDUSTRY

MEETING OF GROWERS

GOVERNMENT HELP

In. pursuance of the policy of the Government in obtaining the co-opera-tion of those actively engaged in an industry which the Bureau of Industry is assisting to reorganise, a meeting of flax millers and growers was held at Foxton yesterday. The meeting was ( attended by all the millers in the district and a good representative of growers, the chair being taken by the ,Mayor of Foxton, Mr. M. Perreau. Mr. F. Johnson, deputy chairman of the Bureau of Industry, and Mr. C.I M. Bowden. special manufacturers' representative on the bureau, who had attended a meeting at Auckland on the previous day, were present and addressed the meeting. The plan of reorganisation, which had been circulated to all known flax growers and millers in the Dominion, had been prepared by the bureau after consultations with a committee of the industry. All the features of the plan were fully explained by the two bureau members, and a number of questions answered. The plan was very well received by those present and appreciation was expressed of the practical assistance to be given by the Government, through the bureau, towards the reorganisation and improvement of this once-import-ant'industry.

The representatives present were particularly interested in the proposals for the setting up by the Minister of 'Industries and Commerce of an industrial committee as provided by the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, from a list of persons nominated by themselves, which committee would be charged with the administration of the plan, the control of the Industry thus being from within its own ranks, assisted by three Government representatives.

A local committee was set up to prepare and submit to the Minister of Industries and Commerce a p^el of names from whom he. should appoint the industrial committee and generally to assist in implementing the plan submitted. A further meeting is to be held in Wellington today, and Messrs. C. M. Bowden and E. J. Fawcett, of the Department of Agriculture and a member of the bureau, are to address a meeting of Southland millers and growers at Tnvercargill next Wednes-: day night. The Industrial Efficiency Act re-1

quires the consent of 50 per cent, of the principals engaged in an industry before any plan can be put into effect Voting papers have been circulated to all flax growers and millers in the Dominion and are returnable not later than July 28.

j Messrs. H. O. Mellsop fAucklancD j and F. Waite, M.L.C. (Otago) were j elected vice-presidents of the New I Zealand Farmers' Union by the annual j :onferencc of the union yesterday, i