THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1918, Page 1

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Sydney, March 27 Those interested in New Zealand’s great hemp industry will probably be glad to have particulars of an ambitions scheme, now definitely under way, to establish the industry of growing and treating flax in Australia. The matter is being taken -up by the federal Government as vigorously as the political blight from which it suffers will permit. -. Limited quantities of flax: have been grown in certain districts of Victoria—-mostly in Gippsland—for some years past, and it has been demonstrated that the useful plant does not dislike the Australian climate. Before the war, however, the price of hemp did not 'enconruge its production. Since the wav the 1 figure has climbed and climbed, and now the British Army Council is offering £l7O per ion for rhe commodity—equal to £IBO in Australia— as com pared with £45 before the war. The obvious possibilities of establishing t-lie-indus-try nuclei- such conditions stirred up the Federal Government, and- it in turn stirred up the ‘-Commonwealth Advisory Council of Science and Industry.” As a result of enquiry and investigation, the Government is guaranteeing farmers, in the coming seaßori, £ls per ton for grf-en flax up to a certain stnndand.

In view of the fact that many parts of Australia are declared to he suitable for the pnrpose of flax cultivation, the proposition looks attractive ; but it appears that the whole of the flax seed available in the Commonwealth is only sufficient to sow 1500 acres. So the Government is calling upon all persons possessing more than a certain quantity of seed to register it ; and it; is creating a committee to control the distribution of. seed among the farmers willing to grow flax.

It is not expected that much planting will be done this year outside the Victorian districts, . where growing has already been .successful. But it is obviously the pnrpose of the Government to stimulate this industry, with a view to its permanent establishment. The argument is that the war has desolated the flax-growing districts of Belgium and .Riga, and that for years after peace is signed

there will be a great, demand for hemp, tending to keep prices at a profitable level.