Manila.

Manawatu Herald, 27 November 1900, Page 2

Manila.

The Manila Times of 14th October last has an article on preparing the Manila fibre into cordage in tho Phillipines. This is one of those things that can bs arranged amongst those interested and the result would not, in any way, we think, affect the value of Manila or P. I enax anyway disadvantageously. he question, thus raised, of the manufacture of raw products on the soil on which they are grown, is one well worthy of attention if the surroundings show that it is practicable. In the matter of fibres, at . the first glance it appears possible, though a closer insight might lead to a disclosure which would put a different view on the question. This we must discuss more fully when armed with more statistics. We have drawn attention to this article as in it is contained a statement verifying the expensive way in which Manila is produced, thus fortifying our hempmillews with the ' knowledge that our fibre dressed by machinery must always be able to hold its own in the London market 1 This is what the Manila Times says : -As most people know, the fibre is produced in very small quantities by natives working in their own huts, the women and children of a family working in tboir spa-jo time to uiaks u^ a bundle sufficiently large to bo worth purchasing. It is in fact remarkable how very small an amount by weight a single workman cau turn out ; and despite the large rewards offered for some effective machine none of the numerous devices set forward have achieved even moderate .-..ccess Could such a machine be invented it would revolutionise the trade"