NEW ZEALAND HEMP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2107, 15 June 1907, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND HEMP.

AN EXPERT’S OPINION. An interesting address on “llenip and 11(1111X5 Grading” was givon in Auckland recently by Air. Johnson, one of the Agricultural Dejiartment’s fibre exjserts. Air. Johnson emxiliasisod the necessity of turning out in New Zealanad an article which could undersell Manila hemxi. He went on to say that for ordinary purx>oses the supply of New Zealand hump was practically inexhaustible. Quantity and not quality was the great aim of many millers. That was a great mistake. They were not only injuring themselves, but were giving tlie article a had name, and consequently

injuring the whole industry. Unless tho consumer were satisfied the industry was doomed. No leaf should be cut if under three years from tlie date of last cutting. That would provide . better hemp, hotter fibre, and would he inore'suitiible for the' market. Unskilled labor was responsible for a large amount of the lowgrade hemis now xiroduced. There was too much carelessness about the whole business. Caro and attention were from beginning to (pnd 1 . He then went on to deal with the whole xirocess of manufacture. Hcinx> frequently lost a higher grade through tho dead leaves in tho hanks. No time should be lost in the manufacture of tho material after cutting. He dexirecated the system jf contract work, and said that thousands of tons of hemp loft the colony graded “fair” which should have been graded “good” if the work of milling had been i>roperly carried out. They should make hanks that could be conveniently handled —not too short and not too long. Damii fibre should never be packed. It was bad if not downright dishonest, and such hemp might bo opened up months afterwards absolutely valueless. The value of tow exported last year was valued at about £53,000. That was entirely due to the. good quality of New Zealand hemp. Alany millers turned out good, clean tow, but they were debarred trom getting full value sinqily because there, was no insjiection, and the Home buyer had to take what he could get so far as quality was concerned".