LINEN FLAX IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24152, 14 June 1940, Page 4

LINEN FLAX IN SOUTHLAND

Farmers Interested In Proposal

USE OF RESERVES IN CITY Interest has been shown by Southland farmers in the announcement made by the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) that arrangements were being made for the growing of 15,000 acres of linen flax in the South Island. It is intended to provide linen fibre for war purposes to Britain which had been deprived of supplies normally received from countries now occupied by the enemy. It is understood that a meeting of farmers will be held in Southland to discuss arrangements for areas to be sown down with the crop.

Comparatively little is known in Southland about the growing of linen flax and it is ,not known whether soil and climatic conditions are favourable. From the announcement made by the Prime Minister it is assumed that expert opinion has been given to the Government that the flax could be grown successfully in this province. Several farmers have expressed their willingness to co-operate in the effort to produce the linen fibre locally provided they can be assured that there is a reasonable likelihood of success with the crop and that the return would be payable. CITY SCHEME A suggestion has been made that the war emergency scheme of the Invercargill City Council might be extended to include the growing of linen flax. A retired farmer who made the suggestion said that the corporation already had a considerable area of ground cultivated for growing crops and had machinery and substantial numbers of men available for the work. If grown on city reserves the crop would be handy to the railway and could be handled more conveniently than if grown in the country districts. As 100 acres of land had been put under cultivation in a short time immediately after the declaration of war, it was probable that several hundred acres of reserves not at present in use could be sown down in this crop.

The suggestion was referred to the chairman of the Reserves Committee (Cr E. J. McLauchlan) who said the growing of flax had not been considered, but that if any request was made it could be considered. The future of the war emergency produce scheme had not been decided.