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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 6 (October 1, 1929)

The Flax Leaf

The Flax Leaf.

It is curious that after the lapse of more than a century the dressed fibre of the valuable native flax, phormium tenax, is not so finely finished, with all the resources of modern machinery, as it was in the early days of the trade when the Maoris scraped the leaf with mussel-shells. That primitive method, combined with the bleaching after the native style, produced a beautifully soft, silky material. Thousands of Maoris toiled frantically in the flax swamps for “muka,” the dressed article, was the wherewithal to purchase their prime necessaries of life, muskets, gunpowder and lead. No tapa cloth garments of the South Sea Islanders ever were as soft and agreeable to the aboriginal skin as the cloaks and mats made from
Railway Training School'S Rugby Football Team, 1929. Back row, left to right: Mr. E. W. Hayton (Coach). Cadets: C. J. Paton, C. H. Coup, R. D. Russell, D. C. Curtis, J. E. Russell, C. Singleton, and Mr. M. Bracefield (Manager). Second row: G. A. Glover, L. D. Rhynd, R. R. L. Shaw (Capt.), E. C. Williams, E. S. Anderson. Front row: I. Thomas, F. R. Debenham, A. G. de Joux and D. S. Woodley. (The above is the first team to be entered by the Railway Training School in the Wellington Rugby Union's Competitions.)

Railway Training School'S Rugby Football Team, 1929.
Back row, left to right: Mr. E. W. Hayton (Coach). Cadets: C. J. Paton, C. H. Coup, R. D. Russell, D. C. Curtis, J. E. Russell, C. Singleton, and Mr. M. Bracefield (Manager). Second row: G. A. Glover, L. D. Rhynd, R. R. L. Shaw (Capt.), E. C. Williams, E. S. Anderson. Front row: I. Thomas, F. R. Debenham, A. G. de Joux and D. S. Woodley. (The above is the first team to be entered by the Railway Training School in the Wellington Rugby Union's Competitions.)

the “harakeke” plant that grew everywhere. Flax fibre to-day is in demand for binder twine and other purposes, and mills are working on scientific principles in many parts. But attention is being directed to the necessity for improved methods of treating the leaf so as to ensure the best results in producing the article.

There is the possibility of many uses for flax besides those of the present. Flax makes excellent paper, makes artificial silk also, and it should in time give New Zealand all the cornsacks and wool-packs that are needed here instead of sending large sums away to foreign parts. If it were possible to employ the old-time Maori methods, the result would be interesting and profitable. But other times, other labour.

The flax business of a hundred years ago, by the way, was one reason why the Maori was so fond of making war. He needed all the slaves he could capture to make “muka” for the traders, so that he could buy more firearms and powder to prosecute more wars—the eternal circle.

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“Where bell-birds tinkle in the blossomed bush.” A charming road scene at Arthur's Pass, South Island—the Mecca of railway excursionists all the year round.

Where bell-birds tinkle in the blossomed bush.”
A charming road scene at Arthur's Pass, South Island—the Mecca of railway excursionists all the year round.