PRODUCTION OF LINEN FLAX

Southland Times, Issue 24575, 25 October 1941, Page 9

PRODUCTION OF LINEN FLAX

Sir,—ln case “Just a Woman,” “More Wings” and “Taxpayer” should think that after reading their letters I have folded my wings and migrated I shall make a brief reply. “Scutcher Hand” has given a complete answer to the criticism levelled against the linen flax industry so there is little left for me to say. I am sorry if my endeavours to try to induce the farmers to grow more linen flax have been misconstrued, as I am not trying to boost the north at the expense of the south, but rather to show the farmers where the opportunity lies to enhance the value of their land and, most of all, to supply the fighting forces with one of the mostneeded of all war materials. I believe that the Southland farmers are more up to date in their methods of farming than are the northern farmers, and so it makes their attitude towards the growing of linen flax the harder to understand. Perhaps when all the laud lists in the north are completed the farmers in the south will not be asked to grow any and then in about 10 years’ time they may wake up and realize that a valuable industry has slipped away from them. What Southland will have lost, the north will have gained. But when the appeals of our British statesmen fail to make an impression on the farmers here, it is useless for me to try. It is linen flax fibre that has been asked for, not fat lambs. The Minister of Aircraft Production says that one bomber delivered now will be worth more than 10 in six months’ time, so why not grow the flax in preference to any other crop when so much depends on it? No doubt Hitler’s army would welcome a nice roast lamb in preference to a fighter plane, but it will only be the latter that will prevent them from enjoying the former. Hitler has built up his army on the slogan, “Guns before butter,” but the slogan here appears to be “Eat, drink and be merry,and carry on as usual. We do not realize that we are all partners in the present conflict, although the fighting (at present) is being done in other fronts. Ordinary things must be put aside and greater efforts made, or we will very soon, have the enemy at our doors. WINGS.