The Hemp industry.

Manawatu Herald, 29 September 1892, Page 2

The Hemp industry.

In January last the Premier wrote to the Agent-General asking him "to ascertain what is the possible antfual otitput of manila and sisal, what is the cost of production in , each case, and by what process are tbe fibres prepared, together with any Other information on the subject that you may think of value." The Agent-General under date of I llth June replies, and) we give the sufc-tence of a long and able letter. The supply of manila and sisal is capable of great extension provided the price and demand ofier prospeots of profitable results. Doting the past 10 years there has been a gradual ind'edsfc of production of both manila and sisal. Iti 1882 the average output of manila was 99Q>,Q00 bales, in 1892, 750,000 bales ; the? productior. of sisal has doubled within ibie last few years and is expected to ftt* 860,,---000 bales this year. It cannot be expected that the* supply will be exhausted or even diminished, but tbat, given a demand at good prices for larger supplies, such demand will be met within any quantity that any one at the present time can anticipate will be required for the uses to which such fibres are applied - ftrid that therefore it may be taken as certain* that if New Zealand hemp producers aw to maintain a profitable position, their endeavours sbould be to improve the qaality of the fibre. The best authority states that if manila hemp could be delivered f.o.b. (port of loading) at a cost of £19 per ton it would still bring in a small profit, but if prices fell to that point there would also be a falling off in production. Sisal can be produced at £14 per ton. These prices are equal to £25' and £17 in the London market. The conclusion arrived at is that the supplies of manila and sisal will be increased or diminished as the prices obtainable for it rise or fall. It is expedient tbat the New Zealand fibre should be desoribed as " hemp " and not as " flax " as the latter term creates misunderstanding as to its nature. The Agent-General believes there are a number of skilled persons who, if they had sufficient inducement and full and proper opportunity for ascertaining the nature of the Phormium Ttnax, would direot their attention to the discovery of a means whereby the plant could be effectually and economically cleaned, so as to enable it to compete with manila and sisal. As far as can be judged the English and Amerioan markets are the only ones at present available. The Agent-General consulted Messrs Cox, Patterson & Go. the large fibre brokers and forwards, a letter from them whioh is also most valuable especially on the question ot freights, which seem to us of move present importance than the maohine, as they write : — Freight on N.Z. hemp to United States is £4 10s, while freight on sisal is near £1. We do not see how this is to be overcome, except by cheapening the cost of production in New Zealand, and possibly by improving the systeni' of baling. The freight on manila by sailer to the United States is a* present equal to £1 12s 3d per ton English, and the measurement df a ton (eight bales) of manila is 96ft to 100 f t ;; whereas New Zealand measures about 160 ft to the ton., although this varies considerably, according as the bales are loosely or tightly pressed, and there is great irregularity in this respect. . ■'.'■■. . There is however one thing that is worth attention. When the demand in the States for bindertwine runs on manila, then New Zealand is in such demand for mixing chat it may go above sisal in price. It mixes well with manila. When, on the other hand, the demand is on sisal twine, New Zealand is comparatively neglected, as at present sisal is £22, whiie New Zealand is only £20 in the States. There is no accounting for the " fashion " in twine in the States. Of course New Zealand can never directly compete with manila, which is altogether a better and stronger fibre, although at present the lower qualities of manila are very unduly depreciated, and fair brown, which is worth; £5 ' less than current manila, is very near the price of good New Zealand. :________________=_=_ .