THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 58

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

YELLOW LEAF DISEASE.

PALMERSTON NORTH, July 11

“There will be no immediate effects on the industry as the result of the abandonment through lack of funds of the experimental work which the Flax-millers’ Association has been carrying out at Miranui in order to combat the yellow leaf disease in flax, but no doubt the industry will feel the effects in the future,” remarked Mr A. Seifert, who was the leading figure in promoting the experiments, when interviewed on the subject of the Government’s decision to agree to a subsidy of £ for £ on an additional grading fee of 6d per ton on flax. The fund derived will be utilised for the purpose of continuing the experiments. “What the Government has done,” said Mr Seifert, “is to agree to subsidise us £ for £ up to £290, and although I am unaware of its reason for limiting it to this sum, I presume the Government took last year’s grading quantity and based the subsidy on that. It will be remembered, however, that last year the market was in a very depressed condition. What the millers wanted was security and a fixed sum, which we were prepared to subsidise by agreeing to an increased grading charge. Our main reason for approaching the Government was to ask for support in the work of selecting the very best flax varieties from which we could choose the best plants that would give the best-quality fibre, and which would also show the greatest, resistance to the yellow leaf disease. After selecting such plants, we aimed at improving them by breeding. We were anxious to interest the small farmer and to induce him to plant a certain amount of flax. We could supply him with specially-selected seed for sowing. “The people who have taken up experimental work think the industry could only be placed on a really prosperous footing by improving and increasing the quantity of raw material. What our future policy will be with regard to experimental work in view of the Government’s offer, I cannot say; but we shall consider the whole question at a meeting this week.”