THE FLAX INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23046, 24 November 1936, Page 11

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

GOVERNMENT SYMPATHETIC ASSURANCE OF ASSISTANCE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. The Cabinet gave consideration to the question of assisting the phormium tenax industry. The Prime Minister (Mr Savage) said after the conclusion of the meeting that altogether apart from the manufacture of woolpacks the Government would assist the flax industry generally in providing new machinery and putting the industry on a better basis. The Minister of Labour (Mr H. T. Armstrong), accompanied by departmental officials, visited Foxton

this morning and inspected the flaxgrowing areas, and the mill. “ There is no doubt,” he said on his return, “ that some initial mistakes were made in the New Zealand flax industry, but against that it is equally doubtless now that the products of the mill, woolpacks and textiles, are very good indeed. It would be futile to argue the question whether flax woolpacks or those manufactured from jute are the better; the cost of manufacture necessarily must come into consideration. ”As a whole, the New Zealand flax industry is worth developing,” the Minister added, “ for the simple reason that the country can produce first-class raw material, and if the industry is properly developed it will provide employment for a fairly large number. In all probability the Government will decide to give some assistance to one of the oldest industries in New Zealand.”