THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 16

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

AN INTERESTING POSITION. BY H.A.S. Several years ago this journal nsed to publish 'weekly a very excellent column of flax notes. When the industry declined after tho war these were discontinued. It is felt that, with the present revival of, and the even greater promise of flax, this • column should ho re-established. Tho purpose of the column will be: to acquaint those engaged or otherwise interested in tho industry with topical items, personal notes and special articles pertaining to flax-milling in all its branches from growing to .marketing. Historical Outline. Flax ranks with whaling and timber as one of the senior industries of New Zea-. land. The earliest exports were of Maori-dressed fibre, but as early as 1869 flax ontered upon its industrial phase. Then was invented tho " stripper " that, with slight modifications, is still the vital machine in flax-milling. Milling continued in a rather spasmodic fashion until the mid-nineties. Then occurred the greatest slump in its history. Fibre was sold for as low a price as £ll 6s per ton average for threo years. But about 1898 tho industry revived again. From that date to this the hemp market has been quite as steady as that for any other of our primary products; and tho future appears as bright. Pre-war Conditions. From 1897 to 1908 tho production of hemp rapidly increased, reaching in 1907 tho record of 28,500 odd tons. This big output was largely due to the splendid prices being oSered. From 1908 to 1914 the output and prices were fairly constant. The export for the period averaged 19,500 tons, valued at about £24 per ton, including value of tow, totalling £470,000 per annum. War Boom in Flax. 4 With the outbreak of the World War there was a short but severe slump in hemp values due to tho prevailing uncertainty as to the future. After a few months, however, the market rallied and the prices commenced to soar. From the pre-war average of £24 per ton, prices climbed to £36 4s in 191.6; £SO 18s in 1917, and to the highest ever recorded—in 1918 the average value per ton of our fibre export was £55 3s. 1919 was also a big prico year, although prices were dropping, but the £3B 15s average of that year was very good. For tho five years, 1915-19, the annual average export was 24,500 tons (fibre only worth £42 12s per ton, including value of tow shipped). For this period tho hemp trade was worth over a million a year. It will be noted that despite the high prices tho production did not increase very greatly. This was due to tho fact that practically all tho flax in New Zealand was worth while milling on pre-war prices. Thus the higher prices did not cause many new areas to come into use. And, of course, flax crops cannot be obtained in a short time as are cereals and others. Post-war Position. The world-wide slump that followed peaco affected fibre as almost every other commodity, although the drop was hardly as severe .is in many other of our primary products. For even the worst year recorded shows an average price of £2B per ton, aud the tow was worth £2 per ton in addition to this, making a combined prico of £3O, compared with the pre-war averago of £24. It will be remembered that wool slumped at one time to about half its pre-war value. * For the years 1920-24 the annual average production was 12,400 tons of hemp worth £3O per ton, the tow being worth an additional £2 10s, making the average £32 10s in comparison -with prewar one of £24 on the same basis. Small Production. It will be that the post-war output was only half that of the war period, and very much below the pre-war normal. This was partly due to the fact that the low prices made some mills unprofitable to run in the face of tho still high costs, also to the fact that munv blocks of flax had been cut before they "were ready—to secure high-priced hemp. This caused a scarcity of matured flax during 1921-22. Another causo of short supply of flax was that some blocks cut during the boom had been turned into grass lands. The high prices of cattle in particular caused the destruction of much flax. Yellow Leal Disease. Of all factors that lessened hemp production, however, the yellow leaf disease was the most outstanding. It was first noticed in the north-west of the Makerua Swamp, near the bank of tho Manawatn River, about October, 1914. At that time the Makerua Swamp contained 14,000 acres of flax, the finest - flax block in all New Zealand, continuouslv supplying about 36 strippers. By 1922 only a dozen strippers were running from this area. The disoaso is as difficult to account for as wa3 the influenza epidemic of about the same period. It spread from this centre and has by now affected almost the whole of the flax in the Manawatn. Much of tho flax formerly affected is now almost as good as ever it was. From all the evidence available now, however, it would appear that much rnoro flax would have recovered than was realised at the timo of the attack. As it is the Makerua now contains 8000 additional acres of flax and is running 19 strippers. It is still the most important division in the industry. The Present Position, The output to-day is almost up to prewar average; for 12 months ending March 31, 1926, the grading returns show just over 18,000 tons of fibre. Yet, as previously stated, there'is to-day a considerably less area in flax than in pre-war days. Tho explanation is that the sideleaf cutting system, now in operation to a largo extent, is resulting in increased yields per acre of flax. Tho prices at present ruling aro fajrly payable. High fair hemp is worth about £3O per ton, tow making an additional £2 10s per ton—in all, £32 10s—in comparison with the pre-war one of £24, figiring on the same basis. It Will readily be seen that the value of the product has not kept pace with the costs, for these aro now about 60 per cent, above pre-war. But is this not the general condition in all our primary industries ? Topical Items. Messrs. Ross, Rough and Company, of Foxton, are carrying out somo very comprehensive experiments with new methods of washing fibre. Those show great promise. A now mill will shortly be starting in the Moutoa Swamp, Manawatu. ' Mr. Herman Seifcrt, a veteran miller, has formed a company, Piako, Ltd., which has bought Mr. F. S. Easton's splendid property called Piako, thus securing what is probably the finest crop of fla'x in tho district. it will be a surpriso to most people to know that thp most extensive flaxplantings of rocent years aro those at Mr. Wall's mill at Martinborough. These have largely been made under tho direction of Mr. 11. T. Greedy, his capable manager. Tho writer of these notes will bo pleased to receive items of interest from anyone so good as to send them. These could bo addressed to H.A.S., c.o. Agricultural Editor, New Zealand Hekat/d. Tho next article will bo " Why I Have Faith in the Flax Industries," by Herbert Soifort, general manager, A. and L. Soifert, Ca, Ltd., Miranui.