FLAX.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2647, 16 May 1923, Page 4

FLAX.

GOYERIMEHT HELP ISSUED. MR MASSEY SYMPATHETIC. GOOD RESULTS FROM IMPORTANT DEPUTATION. (Special to "Times.") WELLINGTON, Last Night. , To-day an important deputation of flax-millers, merchants and members of local bodies secured a definite promise of assistance from the Prime Minister in the important experimental work on which the New Zealand Flaxmillers' Association has been engaged for some time. Considerable public interest has been aroused of lat'e by the important results obtained in the experimental work at Miranui. The millers have been endeavouring to secure plants that will resist disease and at the same, time yield a higher percentage and better quality of iibre, also plants that will mature early. Experiments were also directed towards planting seed at various times of the year to find out the best' season for planting. A great many experiments have aiso been carried out to discover the effects of different methods of cutting- the leaf. The old method involved a complete cut away from the root, but experiments had shown that if only the matured leaves were cut and two or throe left on the plant the shock of cutting was avoided and the yield was about two and a-half times greater than under the old method. Although cutting the matured leaf only was more expensive the owners were compensated by the extra yijpld and the greater disease, resisting capacity of the plant. When the experiments had reached an interesting and valuable stage, promising results of national importance, the millers found themselves up against the financial problem, and they determined to seek Government assistance. The value of the research was recognised also outside the industry, consequently the deputation which waited on the Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture to-day was a large and representative one. The New 2;ealand Flaxmillers' Association was represented by the president, Mr A. Seifert and Messrs. R. T. Bell, A. Ross and A. A. Brown. There were also present a number of leading city merchants and representatives of the Palmerston North and Wellington, Chambers of Commerce, Kairanga and Horowhenua County Councils, and Shannon and Foxton Boroughs. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., who introduced the deputation, stated that the question was one of great importance to the Manawatu district, a.nd, in fact to the whole of New Zealand. He pointed out that those interested were prepared to help in, the work and did not suggest that the whole of the fin- | ancial burden should fall on the State. The chief spokesman was Mr A. Seifert, who said that it was essential that research work should be continued in order to see whether it was possible to produce a disease-resisting plant. During the last eighteen months the experiments had cost £645, out of which sum the Governmeat had contributed £l5O. Last year the Government refused to give a penny towards the work on the ground that strict economy was necessary. With all due respect, he as-* serted that that constiuted false econ--omy. They now asked the Government to give £IOOO a year for a number of years. In order to find a portion of that money the flaxmillers were prepared to submit to a levy of Gd per ton on all fibre sent into the grading stores, and they would ask the Government to impose that levy so that the contribution from the interested parties would be on a fair basis. The levy, it was estimated, would produce between £SOO and £GOO per annum, and they would ask the Government to find the balance up to £IOOO. One member of the deputation discussed the question of turning the flax swamps into dairying land, and claimed that such a plan would not prove profitable in the Manawatu where the swamps were subject to periodical floods, and were sometimes under water for as long as six weeks at a time. The Prime Minister said he knew the value of the flax-milling industry to the Dominion. Whether it would continue to be of the same value he could not say. He might not agree with all that had been said about flax .being more profitable than dairying. It depended upon the quality of the soil, although the Lability to flooding would play an important part. Pie was at one time interested in flax land which was now given over to dairying with very good results. However, he was quite prepared to assist the flaxmillers and more so because they had exhibited a desire to help themselves H 9 could not say just what the Government would do, but it would certainly do something. He would have to consult his colleagues, particularly the Minister of Agriculture. He could not express an opinion as to what would do away with the yellowleaf. That was a matter for the flax--millers themselves, and for their experts. He hoped that the experiments that had been put in train would be attended with every success.

The Minister of Agriculture staffed that the officers of his Department had gone very fully into the matter, and when the question was before Cabinet, he would supply all the data that had been gathered. It was proposed that any fund established should be adminstered with the aid of two representatives of the Agricultural Department