LINEN FLAX MILLS IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 10

LINEN FLAX MILLS IN SOUTHLAND

That the most suitable sites had not been selected for the linen flax mills in Southland was an opinion expressed by the acting chairman (Mr G. R. Herron) at a meeting of the Southland Primary Production Council yesterday morning.

Mr Herron said that for instance a mill had been erected near Gore, but there was mostly grass farming in the district and comparatively little ground under cultivation. He saw no reason why mills should not have been built at Fortrose and Riversdale, where there were thousands of acres under cultivation. He thought a large acreage could have been obtained in the Balfour district had a mill been handy. “The same applies to Otautau,” remarked Mr Robert Kennedy. Steps are now being taken to appoint advisory committees for the production of linen flax, according to a report presented by the secretary (Mr A. L. Adamson). There would be one committee appointed for each mill centre and they would act purely in an advisory capacity. Referring to the area of between 50 and 60 acres secured at Tokanui, Mr Adamson said that the flax would be put on trucks at Tokanui and railed to the nearest mill. Areas could also have been obtained in the Mossburn district had a mill been nearer at hand. The fields superintendent of the Department of Agriculture for Otago and Southland (Mr J. W. Woodcock) thought the linen flax acleage in Southland quite satisfactory, added Mr Adamson. A recommendation was approved that each of the Advisory Committees to be set up consist of the following representatives: —Farmers (2), commercial interests (1), Department of Agriculture (1) and workers (1).