THE SAGA of LINEN FLAX

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 66, Issue 3, 15 March 1943, Page 133

THE SAGA of LINEN FLAX

By

J. H. CLARIDGE,

Seed Certification Officer, Wellington.

WAR has been responsible for many things. Among others, it has been responsible for the introduction of new activitiesthe setting up of new industries on a scale not thought of in peacetime. In no way is this more exemplified in New Zealand than in the establishment of the linen flax industry. Consider our peacetime activities in this directiona small number of plots each a few feet square being grown as a “feeler” to see whether the crop could be produced —no machinery for the extraction of the fibre. Now turn the pages from 1939 to 1943. We find a flourishing industry: 1,000 farmers growing 23,000 acres of crop. 250 pulling machines . harvesting the straw, tractors and trailers in plenty transporting the sheaves. 17 full-size factories employing 1,200 men and women in the processing operations. 200 tons of linen flax fibre being forwarded monthly to the spinning mills of Great Britain.

Our Resources

What has the development of this industry involved? If we go back to June of 1940 we may find lodged among official documents one from the British Government requesting New Zealand to grow linen flax and advising the availability of 500 tons of seed if required. 1 And the reply went back to ship the seed, it would be grown.. At that stage our resources consisted of: — (1) One pulling machine and sufficient machinery for one small scale factory in New Zealand but not assembled. (2) 500 tons of linen flax seed still in England. (3) Farm lands in the South Island, the potentialities of which for flax production were unknown and which, in any case, had not been prepared for this crop. 1 ‘ • (4) Many persons enthusiastic of the idea of linen flax production, but none with practical experience.

(5) Three months in which to make all the preparations before sowing was due to commence.

The First Step

The truth of the axiom “Where there’s a will there’s a way” was many times demonstrated in the months which followed. A rapid survey by agricultural officers resulted in the selection of certain districts as likely

to be suitable for linen flax production, and a canvass of farmers in these districts soon brought to light those with land which could be got ready to sow the seed when it arrived —11,000 acres in all were involved. ,

Others surveyed and selected suitable factory sites where the first eleven factories were to be erected. Others again gave consideration to machinery. The British Government had offered to make machinery available, but with true independence New Zealand elected to build all the machines locally from the raw material, using as a basis the set of machines already available. Plans followed plans, conversions were made from metric measurement (the original machines were made on the Continent) to British measurement. Some were reversed in operation in order to comply with established servicing conditions in New Zealand.

In addition to the fine effort made by farmers in the preparation of land for the crop, several Government Departments were in full collaboration in the enterprise. The Department of Agriculture was responsible for the growing, the Railways Department undertook the production of ' machinery, the Public Works Department attended to the erection of buildings, while the Industries and Commerce Department established a Linen Flax Section to take control of the rapidlygrowing organisation. Private firms rendered their co-operation to the venture, particularly in the case of one machinery firm which placed a large portion of its staff and factory at the service of the Government for the manufacture of pulling machines. .

Difficulties Overcome

It is impossible to relate the diffi-culties-which had to be faced .and disposed of in those few short months until the crop was ready for harvesting. The rush of farmers to prepare their land for sowing, doubt as to the arrival of the seed in time, a Dominionwide appeal for ball bearings to replace those lost by enemy action, the forwarding of pulling belts from Australia by airmail in an endeavour to keep the harvesting up to schedule,

the testing .of . alternative metals ... in . the construction of complicated scutchers, and the search for suitable boilers for the factories. These were but a few of the problems met and overcome as the scene moved forward. All this took place in the first seven months following receipt of that momentous cable. By this time, the linen' flax crop was in the course of being harvested. Contractors, farmers, and agricultural inspectors wrestled with pulling machines, the like of which they had never imagined, and harvested a crop they had not seen before. Even under these circumstances, their performances were such as to compare with those reported from other countries with similar machines. Then came the stocking, the carting, and stacking work which must be undertaken at the right stage and according to climatic conditions. In the meantime, the erection of factories was proceeding apace, while the men who were later to manage these factories drawn from all walks of life —were receiving their initial introduction -to linen flax at a miniature retting plant which had been assembled. The services of a Belgian flax expert had been obtained, and thus there was at least one person who had had some practical experience in the processing of linen flax.

Area Increased

With the factories ready for operation, staffs had to be arranged for and

gradually each factory found itself embarked on the task for which it had been created, but there was no rest at this juncture. Britain was calling for still more linen and New Zealand willingly turned her hand to increased production. The aim of 25,000 acres was set for the second season. This meant exploration for further areas, but the experience of past months now proved of value. Six further factories were required. Modifications of these

were made as a result of the practical knowledge now available. Other factories were enlarged to cope with the production of an increased acreage. More pulling machines were manufactured, and gradually it was possible to see ahead the stage when the equipment available would be adequate for the job. Then other difficulties arose over the horizon. With the increased call up of men for military purposes necessitated towards the end of 1941 labour supplies for the factories became acute. Finally, it was necessary to resort to the employment of female labour as is done in “old world” linen flax production. This type of labour proved eminently satisfactory, but another difficulty arose in its train suitable living accommodation. Factories had been erected adjacent to growing areas rather than in proximity to towns. This was no great obstacle when ample labour was available, but with the change-over to female workers, came the necessity to erect hostel accommodation at the factories.'

Consolidation

■ With the third ' year’s programme ahead, it was decided that a policy of consolidation was called for, and accordingly, the area of flax to be grown was not increased beyond that of the second year, rather was it planned to strive to tidy up all the loose ends which had become apparent, but which had been pushed aside in the prosecution of the major aim—the production of line flax fibre for Great Britain. Stocks of seed were building up beyond what could be absorbed in resowing, the disposal of refuse from the deseeding operations was increasingly difficult, the accumulation of partly

processed tow at the factories was becoming an embarrassment, and the industry generally was at the stage where a complete stocktaking was necessary. Thus, during 1942, plans were entered into for the establishment of a subsidiary organisation to produce linseed' oil from the surplus seed. Grinding machinery was erected at the factories to convert the deseeding refuse into a very satisfactory stock meal. The handling of the tow called for the development of an entirely new type of machinery, as this aspect of linen fibre processing had not been satisfactorily solved in other countries. Uses were found for some of the by-pro-ducts in the preparation of plasterers’ and upholsterers’ - tows, which materials were increasingly difficult to procure elsewhere. Reports were being received of the quality of the linen fibre shipped to England. These reports were nothing if not in full justification of the decision taken by the Government to establish linen flax production in New Zealand. They also showed, however, directions in which improvements could be made, and the major field of development. during the year was in the plans laid and set on foot to increase the efficiency of the factories in regard to both the quality and the quantity of their output.

More knowledge had been gained on the cultural side of linen flax production, and this also was applied in the effort to grow flax straw which could be more efficiently handled at the factories. Thus we come to the stage where the harvest of the third season of the operations is being gathered in. At present, we have established an industry equal to the peacetime linen flax processing industry in Ireland—twice that of England. We are producing probably 5 per cent, of Britain’s requirements of linen flax fibre, replacing at least a portion of that which she has lost under wartime conditions. Of the future, who can say? Is it to be the establishment of a peacetime industry giving full-time employment to the equivalent of 1,500 personsthe provision of another and desirable crop in the farmers’ rotation? Suffice it to say that in this, another of these wartime emergency calls, New Zealand has not been lacking but has faced the task with some success. )

Don't

neglect early spring cabbage plants. For slugs and snails use burnt lime freely. It is best applied in the evening.