LINEN FLAX GROWERS

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 6

LINEN FLAX GROWERS

MEETING AT WINTON Last night the R.S.A. room at Winton was filled to capacity when a meeting was held to elect a linen flax advisory committee for the districts serving the Winton factory. The meeting was addressed by Mr L. B. Vicary, manager of the Winton factory, and Mr Stewart, outside manager. In the course of his remarks Mr Stewart said that the quality of the flax was largely determined by the colour, which should be bright yellow. Other good points were absence of branching, very little seed on the head and correct height. Lea land had proved to be the best for growing as it was clean and if flax was grown after stubble the excess nitrogen was removed from the soil. The present year’s crop at South Hillend was as good as any in New Zealand. Before going on to describe the manufacture of linen flax, Mr Vicary said the advisory committee would have access to the factory and the records at any time. It would be able to see anything it wanted to see and he believed that if the committee had been elected last year a great deal of misunderstanding would not have taken place. Flax to be perfect should be of the same thickness as No. 12 wire and the same thickness throughout the length of the stem, which should be from 25in to 30in long. Answering questions he said the reasons why flax could not be carted from the stook to the factory were: (1) The flax had to be stacked as that was part of the process; (2) If the flax were carted to the factory an additional 35 acres would be required; (3) If one stack caught fire all the flax from the district would be lost, for it would leave the way open for sabotage. If the puller was making a poor job, the farmer could stop the pulling. The following were elected to the committee: —Messrs ,D. McPherson (Waianiwa), C. S. Hardy (South Hillend) and W. Hishon (Oreti).