Flax Industry.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19362, 20 March 1935, Page 6

Flax Industry.

RE-OPENING OF MILLS. SKILLED LABOUR SCARCE. DOMINION FIBRE IN DEMAND. The opening of two flaxmills near Foxton on Thursday may be the beginning of a small revival in the; Dominion's flaxmilling industry, for the demand for hemp from overseas is heavier than it has been for somo years. If the demand continues, at least one large firm hopes to open more mills. The opening of tho mills near Foxton follows the opening of a large two-stripper mill in the Thames Valley about a month ago.

One of the chief difficulties in the way of the mills now opening is to find skilled employees. When the mills closed down several years ago, the men drifted into other employment, and the employers now expect to find it hard to get them back, The natural consequence of employing unskilled men is that it is difficult to make good hemp; and as tho quality of foreign fibres has improved, good hemp is needed in the Dominion now more than ever. But the employers anticipate that it will not take the men long to learn tho work in the mills. Moreover, New Zealand flax has a special demand because of its unique quality. It is rather softer than others and is used a great deal for mixing with the harder qualities for binder twine, light ropes, and lashings which are to be knotted.

The Dominion employers have been much encouraged to find the Admiralty buying their hemp in preference to sisal and manila.

Mixed Quality.

It has been stated that the green leaf from the Moutoa Swamp, which supplies the Foxton mills, is considered the best ever milled in recent times, and shoAvs a remarkable improvement in quality from being left alone. In other parts of the Dominion, however, growers have found that the flax is no better. The climate has not been so suitable for it, and a good deal of damage has been done by insects. Although no information is available about the New Zealand flax seed which was exported to Japan some time ago, it is known that Japan has been making inquiries in the Dominion recently about scutching machines. The millers here, however, do not fear competition from the Japanese. They say "they have neither the land nor the climate to establish an industry which would worry New Zealand.

What is done with the isolated patches of New Zealand flax that are grown in Japan is not known. It is thought in some quarters that the hemp is mixed with manila hemp, which the Japanese use a great deal, and there is also a suggestion that Japan wants to start a flax industry in Manchukuo.

The present demand for Dominion hemp has been accomplished by only a slight rise in prices. If it continues, however, it should result in many men being employed, f6r each stripper requires 20 men to work it.