THE WAIKATO TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1935. REVIVAL OF FLAX INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19638, 26 July 1935, Page 6

THE WAIKATO TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1935. REVIVAL OF FLAX INDUSTRY

The report from Orini that the flax mill has commence opera tions is of more than local interest, in view of the decided improve ment in the prospects for the payable marketing of our ieFor a lengthy period flax milling has been in a somevvhat parlous condition, and what was once a profitable venture and a pio 1 source of revenue to the Dominion has been under acon . om 40 years ago there was a'very keen demand for oiu 1 ie - ai areas were devoted to its growth, and lucrative employmen provided for large numbers of men. , Then came the calamity of the disease, yellow leaf, vnicn destroyed immense tracts of flax., This was followed by a isas iou~ drop in prices to a point at which it was not profitable o lea leaf. Now comes a hopeful note. The chief Governmen • ® m P grader in a recent statement said that future prospects or om i are bright provided careful attention is given to the cultivation o the leaf ‘and only selected varieties are treated. Research work at Massey College has had beneficial results in the Manawatu. The elimination of some of the least dfifira e species and the propagation of the best strains have been di igen• y pursued, and some have been .discovered which are immune to yellow leaf disease. The needs of the market have been carefu y studied, and effort is being directed to the production of a soft fibre. What is classified as “ hard fibre ” cannot be spun, but the “soft" can, and it is adaptable to a number of uses. excellent results are reported from Massey College along this line, and it is confidently predicted that a new era is opening up for an indus ry which at one period P An important opening for the leaf is probable in Australia. A powerful group of companies has established mills for paper manufacture in Tasmania. They hope to produce all kinds of paper, but in order to do so it will be necessary to use a proportion ot longfibred material with the eucalyptus pulp. For this purpose techme advisers have recommended the use of New Zealanc bx ’ being the most suitable material as a strengthened If this Australian industry is successful—and of that little doubt is entertained—it will therefore open up an assured market for several thousands of tons of fibre annually. T i a Lord Craigavon, formerly Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, who visited the Dominion some time ago, was impressed with t e New Zealand product. He stated that most of the flax used for the linen trade in his country came from Russia, the cost being en about £4O per ton. If New Zealand could produce from its native flax a fibre similar to that required for the linen industry'there was no reason why it should not obtain a fair proportion of the Irish trade, and it should be remunerative. It has been shown that fibre of the required texture can be produced. The suitability of New Zealand fibre for cordage for the Navy was recently reported upon by the authorities, the report being favourable. , ... When Lord Bledisloe was in New Zealand he stressed forcibly and often that it were folly to devote all our attention to one or two channels of industry. Success lay in diversity, and especially so in conditions which obtain to-day. The fla* industry is one that could be thoroughly explored in this connection.