HELP PROMISED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 11

HELP PROMISED

THE FLAX INDUSTRY NEW METHODS NEEDED INVESTIGATION BY STATE [by telegraph—own connespondent] PALMEOSTON NORTH, Thursday A telling point in connection with the lack of progress in the flax industry was made by the Minister °f Labour, tbo Hon. H. T. Armstrong, at Foxton to-day, when ho was speaking to the men who had been rendered idle through tho difficulties facing the industry.

"I take a very keen interest in industries, and when I compare the methods adopted to-day with those in use 50 years ago I marvel at the progress made, but when J look at the flax industry 1 marvel at the fact that it has made 110 progress at all," said the Minister. " They use tho same method of stripping and treating flax as they did when I was a youngster. 1 am wondering now whether we ought to do something for tho industry, or let it go. If we cannot do anything better than in tho past, we ought to let it go." The Minister, however, thought that something better could be done. Flax fibre was a very valuable product, but if they were just going to produce raw fibre, and take a chance on a market over which they had no control, they were engaged in a very risky business. To put the industry on a firm looting they would have to produce not only bales of fibre, but also the finished article, even to clothing. Surely they could do manufacturing in this country, rather than send raw material to the other end of the world, and then pay an import duty on imported articles made from it.

A start had been made with the woolpack factory, and although it was not a gigantic success, it was an attempt, and if mistakes had been made they would be lessons for the future. Had it not been for the support given to the wool pack factory from the Employment Promotion Fund there would bo no such industry to-day. The same thing applied to the flax-milling industry, from £7 to £3 being paid for every ton of fibre exported, according to its quality. If there was money in the Employment Fund, he felt it could be put to no better use than helping to establish such an important industry as flax. It the Government was given a chance it was going to make it a, real industry. " We are going to produce people s requirements out of our own raw materials without sending them to Japan or Timbucktoo," said the Minister. Scientists were at work, and very soon the Government would be presented with a report as to the best method of placing the industry on its feet again. FOXTON'S UNEMPLOYED WORK TO HE PROVIDED [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] FOXTON, Thursday A visit was paid to Foxton to-day by the Minister of .Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in connection with unemployment resulting from the closing of flaxmills. The Minister was accorded a civic welcome in the council chamber by \tlie Mayor. Mr. M. E. Perreau, and at the Town Hall later Mr. Armstrong addressed a large gathering. Representations were made for certain works to be undertaken as employment measures. The Minister promised to place in employment all able-bodied men at present on sustenance in Foxton, and indicated that consideration would be given to overhauling the borough sewerage works, which were damaged by the earthquakes and arc liable, to collapse. Mr. Armstrong inspected the factory of Now Zealand AVoolpack and Textiles, Limited, and the Moutoa flax area.