PLANS FOR LINEN FLAX

Southland Times, Issue 24437, 17 May 1941, Page 6

PLANS FOR LINEN FLAX

TWO NEW FACTORIES FOR SOUTHLAND

(Special) DUNEDIN, May 16. Information has been received about the acreage of linen flax to be grown in Otago and Southland during the coming season. Mr J. W. Woodcock, fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, stated today that to supply the existing factories the areas of linen flax to be sown would be: Balclutha, 100 acres; Tapanui, 2000; Winton, 2000; Otautau, 1500. In addition it was proposed to establish new factories at Clydevale (1500 acres), Gore (1000 acres) and Woodlands (1000 acres).

Although the terms of the contract are not yet completed, the department wishes to obtain offers to grow linen flax from farmers in these districts as soon as possible. In some cases last season the failure of a crop could be traced to the fact that the land had not received the benefit of early cultivation. To some extent this was unavoidable in view of the lateness of the appeal for linen flax acreages, but the department intends to launch its campaign for the coming year as soon as possible.

Only a few returns from last year’s crops are known, but it is expected that most farmers will be well pleased with the results achieved. Already several ofers to grow additional acreages have been received from last season’s growers. The experience gained last year will be fully exploited by the department, and more adequate facilities will be available now that the industry has become established. No doubt many of the farmers who grew linen flax last season feel equally confident that success can be achieved with the crop. They are being requested to advise the department as soon as possible of the area they will grow.