THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 116, 17 April 1939, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

DEVELOPMENT AT EOXTON. Tn welcoming the Minister of Public AA’orks (Hon. R. Semple) and others to the luncheon in connection with the opening of the AATiirikino trestle bridge on Saturday, Mr AV. E. Barber (chairman of the Manawatu County Council), refeiTed to tho occasion as an auspicious one as it marked the fulfilment of one of two “crying needs” in the neighbourhood—the AATiirikino bridge and the sealing of the Eoxton Beach highway. This feature was also mentioned by the Mayor of Eoxton (Mr Af. E. Perrcan), who expressed appreciation ol what had been done. However, he said there were still 22 chains of the Eoxton Beach Road which had not been sealed, and he had been asked to have the Minister do something about it. Air Foreran also alluded to the wool pack ami textile industry. They had “nursed the baby” given them hv the Alinister, and were proud of it, he said, hut now it wanted nourishment. (Laughter.) There were about 60 or 70 men skilled in the textile industry on public works, and lie asked the ATinistcr to discuss the matter with the Alinister of Industries and Commerce in order to get them to come hack into their own sphere of labour. This industry was going to he of great value to New Zealand. The wool-growers wanted wool packs, and an endeavour would be made to have, the Aloutoa swamp planted in flax. Air Semple said he was preparing more “nourishment for the baby.”