THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143768, 17 April 1912, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

A CHANCE FOR INVENTORS. Per Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 16. A complimentary luncheon was given at the Royal Hotel to-day, by members of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association to Mr. J. Liggins, ex-presi-dent, who is leaving for Europe and America with view .to inducing scientists to take up the question of improving flax processes, in view of the £12,000 bonus offered by the Government. Mr. Alfred Seifert, who presided, and other speakers referred to the sound position of the industy here in consequence of tho improvements effected in the machinery during the last four or five years, without which Mr. Louis Seifert said that they could not have carried on at the prices and paid the wages. Improved machinery however had enabled them to pay the improved wages and still keep tho inrnstry sound. Mr. Mabin, of Lfven and Co,, said that there was every reason to believe that the industry here had turned tho tide, thanks to the brains of those concerned in it, while in Auckland and Invercargill it had been snuffed out. There was every reason to believe that they were in for a period of improved prices on a sound basis. Mr. Scott, of Scott, Niven and Co., said that he had for a considerable time been experimenting with a view to improving flax machinery, but found it almost impossible to get away from the idea of tho machinery which had been in use. When they applied to the world’s scientists he was satisfied that any improvement effected must be on principles directly opposed to those at present in vogue. Mr. Liggins who expressed the gratitude of flax millers and all concerned in the industry td the Primer, Mr. 'Mackenzie, for his assistance in getting the £12.000 bonus said that enquires regarding it had been received from such widely separated places as Madras, Berlin, Canada, United States, Mexico and Germany, where scientists were already interested. He hoped to interest the lending scientists personally and hoped that some new process might be discovered to prepare tho fibre for textile uses.