Hemp-Grading.

Manawatu Herald, 6 October 1904, Page 3

Hemp-Grading.

INCREASE OF FLAXMILLS. THE STRAIN ON THE SUPPLY. The Chief Fibre Expert, Mr C. J. Fulton, reporting to the Minister of Agriculture on the year’s Operations, says:— The work of this division has been exceptionally heavy owing to the large increase of flaxmills in the colony. At the ports of Auckland and the Bluff large quantities of inferior fibre are received. This indicates the great necessity for giving practical instruction to the miller, In Auckland, Otago and Southland the number of mills has largely increased, and the majority of the mill-owners in these districts are accustomed to the manufacture of the fibre. Although anxious to turn out a good article, they have been producing large quantities of decidedly interior material, but which is not sufficiently bad to be condemned. The flooding of the market with this |)00r class of fibre will have a very prejudicial effect on the market value of our product. A very noticeable feature since the introduction ot Government grading is the improvement made in stripping. This is one of the most essential parts in the preparation of the fibre, for if the stripping is badly performed all the other workings will suffer accordingly. Many stripper-keepers set or adjust the strippers in the evening or early morning, and then feel satisfied that good work will result Until at least midday. They never seem to take into consideration the variation in quality and condition of the raw material, which often necessitates a readjustment every two hours, or even qftener. The result is that there is often a mixture of good and bad fibre, and when the grader’s report comes to hand its accuracy is often discredited by the miller. Again, some millers give considerable attention to stripping, but their eagerness to mill large ‘ quantities causes them to give but little attention to the process of washing. The effect is that the finished article retains much cutaneous matter. The careful removal of this is of the greatest importance. The amount of waste in the form ot tow in many mills is simply astounding, and this is a matter worthy of the miller’s most serious consideration. From inquiries made it has been stated by many that the quantity of tow resulting from the production of a ton of fibre varies from 3cwt to i2cwt. This is extremely wasteful, for if the raw material is reasonably good 4cwt is a large amount of tow per ton of fibre grading “ fine ” quality. This is a grade higher than the usual contract grade “ good fair.” Many millers evidently consider that the production of “ fine ” quality necessitates loss of fibre and increase in tow. Now, this is totally erroneous. Improved quality is the outcome of reasonable care throughout the preparation, and this should decrease the amount of tow. Millers must bear in mind that there is not more than xewt of real waste from a ton of well-prepared fibre. The rest consists of good fibre which has been spoiled, and- often among the tow may be found some that with care would have been of the very best. All should realise the strain which has been placed on the supply of raw material during the last three or four years. The quantity of New Zealand hemp available for milling is becoming more limited every year: and therefore it is very important to avoid any unnecessary waste, and the raw material should be worked in such a way as to give the greatest possible amount of fibre. Several millers have expressed their intention of closing their mills during the more severe winter months, and thus preventing the growth of the hemp from receiving any check, for in certain parts of New Zealand, where heavy frosts and snow have been experienced immediately after the cutting, large areas have been considerably damaged. The artificial cultivation of New Zealand hemp is now beginning to be undertaken by private individuals. This is a very important work, because there is no doubt that with careful cultivation the plant may be induced to yield larger quantities of marketable fibre than when grown up in the wild state. It is not compulsory to grade fibre which is to be manufactured in the colony, but as a considerable amount of binder-twine for export is now being made locally it is important that none but the best fibre should be used for this. Many of the manufacturers have requisitioned our graders to grade the fibre that they are using for manufacturing purposes. This we gladly undertake, as it lessens the risk of fibre of inferior quality being used. Reports have come to hand of the fibre having been submitted to arbitration in London, the grades placed upon it by the members of this division having been objected to. In nearly every instance, however, the awards have been in favour of our graders. Arbitration is a cause ot much dissatisfaction, and this should be immediately remedied. If it is to be allowed to continue, the arbitrators must be experts who are thoroughly conversant with both the raw material and the preparation of the fibre. There are grave reasons for fearing that many underhand practices are taking place in the marketing of this product. It is essential that these practices should, if possible, be exposed and Erevented, thus relieving the minds of oth exporters and producers. The present system of affixing grade-tags is far from satisfactory, as they can be easily removed from the bales; and there are numerous instances where the bales have reached their destination without their proper tags. The following table shows the number of bales graded at the various ports during the year : Bales Auckland 38,983 Wellington 7 2 »348 Lyttelton „3 ,0 33' Port Chalmers ... 3,447 Bluff 17.817 Total 135,628