DECLINE IN HEMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3535, 15 June 1905, Page 2

DECLINE IN HEMP.

\\ incident in the commercial news cabled from Home daring the past few weeks that has caused some degree of alarm has been the steady decline in the market price of New Zealand Hemp. Just what may be the real cause of the unpleasant fluctuation it is not easy to arrive at; but stories received lately from British firms using phormium tenax fur manufacturing purposes would seem to indicate that unscrupulous middlemen have, by a system of substitution of brands and graders’ marks, foisted inferior fibre on to consumers as higher grade stuff. The natural con" sequence has been that the firms so victimised have “ declared off ” New Zealand hemp, and doubtless they have in some cases at any rate sounded 'T warning note to other users. This may account in part for the fall in prices ; but the tact should not be lost sight of that- Manila has also exhibited weakness ; so that evidently .some other potent factor is at work to undermine the market. Whether increasing consumption of newly introduced fibres is responsible we cannot say ; but, seeing the importance of the industry to this colony, we cannot think that our flaxmillers will allow the puzzle to drag along unsolved. The Flaxmillers’ Association is urging the Government to appoint on the grading staff a man versed in the requirements of consumers—a very good thing, as no one will deny ; —but the association should go further. It should be well aware by this time that to await action by the powers that be will often spell serious loss; therefore, the matter being of pressing urgency, it should send Horne a man to represent the flaxmillers solely, to overlook the distribution of the fibre at Home, and to see that the different qualities --for of course there must always be varying degrees of perfection in manufacture. however well conducted the wox k in tiio mms may be are Tapi v. i i U) (.he bus: va-siage, he., to those.manufactures for whose purposes

they are most suited, Such a man can be no doubt? he obtained, and his services would, beyond question,, secure much benefit to thd industry. ; The present alleged irregularities In 1 the trade would then be impdsible? and consumers, having regained confidence in the Maw Zealand article, would probably extend their dealings i therein. Even if the apparently de- ! dining demand is entirely due to the inroads of newer fibres on the market, a tlaxmillers' representative! dri the' spot would be able to see how best to i protect his principals’ interests. In he present circumstailcen iffexchants do not care specially for phormmrri ortax dr any. other particular fibre : I their dnfe object is' td make profits, ami- the article of mdst prc'm'si in this, respect will secure their attention, without regard for the real needs of consumers or the future of producers ■ of the raw material.