EXPORT OF HEMP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 8

EXPORT OF HEMP.

A CRITIC FROM ABROAD.

Some interesting observations upon the P ut forward li'il 'F' J h Uel >t-Wol(F, tho rente' Eentativo of a German firm which owns large.rope.malmig establishments in S w ail^ *-1- i'Ai*"*.' I ' rill ; ce > and -Russia. Mr. Wenk-rtollt is making an extended stay in New Zealand; and , s ;„t oll t on puttin £ the oxport of nemp from New Zealand lonf!nt n n ll,> ' -t 1 "" 1 a - mor<! satisfactory footing than it occupies, at present. "I tfot complaints from Germany every dav " ho told a Domi.vion- reporter, "that New Zealand hemp is getting worso and worse. I am sure tho fibre is a good one, but tho process ot preparing it for the market is unsatisfactory. When we go to the millers they say: Why don't y(m buy fine quality ! • n ll 'natter of_fact, not ono baft of hni iibro gees to iSurope. It is all sold in Australia ov remains in this country. It is only out here that millers can get the prico they -want for "fine' fibre .there difference of about .C 2 a'ton between the. price of 'good fair* fibro and tho fine -quality. . The latter fetches about X2l a ton, a price that manufacturers in Europe cannot afford to ua'v 'Ordinary (low grade) Manila hemp is olo'ift I '' , k ca " 1,0 bought for about .£l3 105. a ton. Wo cannot use the New Zealand hbro nlono for ropes, or even for binder twine, but wo want it for misiiiwith the ordinary Manila. We make good ropes using two-thirds Manila fibre and one-third Isou* Zealand."

Mr. Wonk-Wolff further, explained that, at the moment, European manufacturers gained little by importing supplies of hemp dircct from New Zealand as against buying on the London market. Ho considers that both producers hero and manufacturers iu Europe would profit if the direct .transmission ,of supplies could be arranged on a satisfactory basis. In passing, the rope-manufacturer remarked that ho ■ appreciated the value of tho system of Government grading of hemp followed in .this country. Nevertheless ho eonRiders that the 'good fair' henip fibro might easily bo turned out by tho millers in bfitk-r condition, and he'hopes beforo leaving this country to arrive- at an understanding with the producers which will lead to tho exportation of a good Jiemp fibro at a moderate prico.