THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 21

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

REVIEW OF CONDITIONS. A HOPEFUL TRADE OUTLOOK. PALMERSTON N., July 22. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association was held yesterday, Mr H. A. Siefert (vice-president) presiding. The annual report stated that the quality of this year's production graded a little below the average of previous years. Most of the millers were of the opinion that this was due to the hardening of the grading standard, and not to any extent due to carelessness in handling or to the poorer quality of the leaf. The small premiums offered for the belter grades, during the latter half of the year especially, did net encourage millers to go to much expense in pursuit of extra quality. Prices throughout the year had been steady, but not high. '1 he 1926 winter price was the best received during a winter for several years past. This was rather strange, for one expected the great coal strike to have lowered the market. The summer price last- season was not as good as usual. During the past year further flax planting companies had been formed, mainly in the Auckland province. Never before had the industry been so much in the public eye. The methods had also undergone some change. Of great importance was the abandonment of side leaf cutting, and the reversion to hook cutting by three of the largest firms that had adapted side leaf cutting. Many experiments had been carried out with washing the fibre and also with artificial bleaching and air-dry-ing. The scutching process had received some attention. Another movement of considerable importance was the effort that had been manifested at several mills to class fibre before baling. In regard to the future of the industry, .Mr Siefort said that prices could not ue expected to be greatly improved. The output would probably be a little lower than it was last year, owing to the abandonment of side leaf cutting and the closure of the marginal mills. These were the mills which were run upon the scattered areas of flax when conditions were favourable to the industry. About 16,500 tons would probably be the output for the coming year, and the quality should be about equal to that of last year. Flax planting was expected to exceed all previous records as probably from 500 to 1000 acres would be planted in the coming year. At the same time for the next five, six, or eight years the natural flax would supply almost the whole of the output. Two problems of outstanding importance which were worthy of investigation were: (1) Artificial bleaching and drying. This was the millers’ greatest opportunity io cheapen production with probably an improvement in quality. (2) The development of additional uses for fibre textile and paper manufacture offered splendid possibilities in view of the increasing production. If these could be developed satisfactorily then the industry should develop beyond anything visualised at present.