KENTISH HOPS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 133, 28 February 1908, Page 7

KENTISH HOPS.

A DEMAND FOR PROTECTION. BY TELEGRArH—PRESS'ASSOCIATION— COPYWGHT. :.V.. y,! '..: ' j London, February 26. .The Government has appointed a - select committee i"to \ inquire , regarding .the - con-ditioti;'bf-t.thojhtip industry.;"'';' i'~ >- . A ( meeting: of Kentish .growers resolved that the time was ripe for the Government ; to tako action' to "protect English, growers 'against unfair fdreign • competftion. • - - 1 ' Some speakers suggested a duty of 40s. ' per cwt...... ... j- •. An • agitation -against' the: free, importation i of foreign, hops has been growing up in Kent : for some time. ...It is: estimated that the averago cost, of growing, hops and producing 10 cwt.-peiv- acre.;'up>to the'time of.'picking is £30 per acre; cost.of'pioking and ; drying, 30s. to 40s.'-';per;'ewt., 'making a .total" cost of from /^Eis'to i!so\per acre.; ,o'f this•• total,• from'£3o to .£32 is speift'.upon.labour! consequently; the' .labour, billrespect of' the 1 whole of the JBngr lish hop acreage amounts to- rather more than •per :i annum; ; vWhen.-'faS .lately,•'■the growers".arel askcd I '.'to'i.se,n,;.tJj(!ir-v.hops, at s 70s. 1 a ..loss - ofithat. Ji"6y- : must ' sell -,at" '£5; per ,'cwt.';-to"get','their /aoney back. : -V '■