FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6812, 16 January 1929, Page 8

FLAX INDUSTRY.

Ah executive meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers ’ Association was held on Saturday, being presided over by the president (Mr C. H. Speirs.) Also present were Messrs J. S. Moir, A. L. Seifert, H Berry, G. Rough, W. Ross, Junr., W. Nye and W. Speirs. Apologies, for absence were received from Messrs. E. Sutton, A. A. Brown, A. Fraser and Greig. In discussing the benefits accruing from the “A” method of cutting flax, which is a system whereby the flax is cut from tho base up in the form of an “A,” tho president said that, in the Wairarapa where the scheme <uvl bean in operation for some time, flax could be cut every three years for milling. Mr H. Berry (Eoxton) said that he had flax in his yards at the mill which was 10 feet long and cut in the ordinary way off a swamp that had not received the bonefits of “A" cutting.

The president said that he had seen four-year-old flax no more than four feet high. Conditions had a great deal to do with the growth, but in his opinion the “A’’ method had certain advantages. It was decided that the president and Mr E. Sutton attend a conference to be held to meet representatives of the union' to discuss the fixation of a rate of pay for tho “A” method of flax cutting. Treatment of Flax.

For some time now two representa* tives of a Christchurch firm have been engaged in research work in the Manawatu district in regard to perfecting a “wash” which will eliminate “paddocking” in reference to tho hemp industry. They have visited the majority of the mills in the district and towards the end of last year carried out a series of tests at Whitaunui mill in ths Moutoa. A letter was received from the firm thanking the president for tho assistance accorded the experimenters during their visit to the Manawatu. Tho president said that a few days ago a representative of tho firm-had visited him in Shannon with a request! that he be allowed to carry out further I experimental work at his mill at Shan- ] non. As he had been unable to accede j to the request he had suggested - that j ho get in touch with some of the , other millers. ■ Mr Seifert reported that the experimenters wore now located at Miranui. where they intended stripping, several tons of green blade and treating it with their new process to eliminate paddocking. Mr Seifert also stated that a Palmerston NoTth man had a chemical process for treating the green blade and his process was to boil the flax. in.a .chemical solution for about twenty minutes at the conclusion of which the vegetation could be'rolled or scraped off. Mr Moir said that the experimenters had received assistance from the Department of Agriculture during their sojourn at Whitaunui. The department appeared to be very confident over the new process. Mr Seifert stated that the Department of Agriculture was evincing a good deal of interest in the flax industry. and appeared to be doing what it could for it.