LINEN FLAX INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 5

LINEN FLAX INDUSTRY

POST-WAR PRODUCTION EXTENT NOT YET DETERMINED (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The statement that many of the Government departments were investigating the possibility of continuing the linen flax industry after the war was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. G. Sullivan, when the Estimates were under discussion in the House of Representatives to-day. He added that it would undoubtedly be continued, but its extent would depend on the possible development of the textile side.

The question was raised by Mr H. J. Aclgnd (Oppn., Temuka), who inquired if Britain was now as badly in need of linen flax as she was a year ago. It would appear that this was not so, for the acreage in linen flax in South Canterbury had been reduced.

The Minister said that Britain had not asked for increased quantities of linen flax beyond the production of the present 17 factories.

Replying to Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Oppn., Waitomo). the Minister said that the costs of production were coming down. The dominions were not being paid the same price by the Imperial Government as was paid for linen flax from Northern Ireland. The matter had been taken up by the dominions, which would not now be allowed to suffer a loss on the production side, but the question of how much loss they should be allowed to incur in capital expenditure was under consideration