THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 14

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Sir,—ln their desire to obtain something for nothing, a body of flaxinillers recently waited on tho Hon. 0. \Y. Forbes an'd asked that a grant of £4OOO be made for the purpose of establishing a stability fund. It is a well-known fact that most flaxmills close down for the winter, for tho good and sufficient reason that the swamps cannot be worked nor can the fibre be .successfully bleached and dried under existing methods. Why, therefore, should the country be taxed, even to the extent of £4OOO, for the purpose of tiding needy millers over the winter ? WoolgrowGrs and dairy farmers have as much justification for seeking assistance because of tha heavy fall in those commodities, more particularly wool. It may not be generally known that our native flax (pnormium tenax) has been successfully grown and milled in the Argentine for many years and inquiries for seed are being received from England and South Africa. It is thought by some that an embargo should bo placed on the export of seed, but in my opinion it should be encouraged, as we arc at present not producing nearly sufficient libra for the world's requirement, and that is tho reason, combined with careless milling and packing, that militates against the successful marketing of this product. Tenax.