HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3727, 4 December 1906, Page 4

HEMP INDUSTRY.

Says the Mercantile Gazette: — It is now some years since hemp commanded prices that assured to the producer a certain remuneration. The latest quotations for New Zealand hemp is 10s, and pi ices have been higher. The history of the hemp industry is one of fluctuations, a period of high prices has been succeeded by a period of depression, but with every rise there prevails an opitimism that is very harmful to the I industry. There was a time when a ton left a fair margin of profit, but such is not the case now, because the costs of production have increased very considerably. Royalties are much higher, millers have to go further afield for supplies, and labour is more expensive. It is doubtful whether as much profit is being made now at ,£36 10s as was made in earlier periods in the history when prices did not go beyond a ton. It must be admitted that the present “boom” has lasted a considerable time, and that perhaps is some excuse for the prevailing optimism. At the present time there is nothing surer than that there will be a fall in values sooner or later, perhaps sooner than is anticipated. What will happen then ? Many mills will have to close down, and there must follow a readjustment of costs. But those who are maintaining their lands in phormium may not be disposed to so continue if the royalties are materially reduced, and so more of our flax areas will pass away and be converted into pastoral country. Hemp is ruling high iDecause there is a general scarcity of the commodity. Supplies are not equal to the comsumptive demand, which has expanded in recent years mainly because of the increased area devoted to the cultivation of wheat, more particularly in Canada and the United States, and also to the adoption of the harvester machinery in countries that have hitherto been content to work along old methods. New Zealand hemp makes excellent binder twine, and is chiefly used for that purpose. The scarcity of hemp cannot continue for any great length of time, because the ruling high prices are attracting the attention of other countries and developments ate going on which point to the early augmentation of the world’s supply of fibre. To begin with, we have the fact that the cultivation of the sisal hemp is progressing in Queensland. Since early in last year 69,000 plants have been distributed and several good-sized plantations have been started, besides smaller plots being planted as a bye-product on some ■ farms. A contributor to “Dalgety’s Review” says: “There is no question of its successful cultivation in the Northern State (Queensland) ; it grows as it it were indigenious, and seems impervious to any droughty conditions that might prevail. The sisal plant requires no rich soil ; any poor, rocky, dry, gravelly, unproductive land will grow it. It does not need any special attention ; if the suckers are placed in the ground with ordinary care, and at a regular distance from one another, they can practically be left to take care of themselves. The principal drawback probably to many will be that the returns from the necessary outlay of obtaining suckers and planting will not begin to accrue until four or five years have elapsed, but after that the income is sure and permanent. A 12acre plantation will ensure a competence for life.” In Victoria efforts are being made to acclimatise the phormium tenax and similar efforts are being made in the Dutch East Indies, and in Java. Rhodesia is now a grower of sisal, and Sell’s “ Commercial Intelligence ” states that the hemp growing industry is a very important one in the province of Hunan, and hemp will probably form one of the staple articles of export. Besides the extended cultivation of known fibre plants, we have to bear up against the discoveries of new fibre-yielding plants. The American ConsulGeneral at Rio de Janeiro has submitted a report to his Government on the plant known as “Brizilian lyinen,” which he thinks may revolutionise the linen industry of the world. The special advantages of this Brizilian fibre, the technical name of which is “ canhamo braziliensis perini” over European linen and other similar plants are: — 1. —It is absolutely hardy, resisting alike the dry or the rainy season, bearing equally well in dry or wet soil, and not a prey to insects or mildew.

2. —No care or special cultivation is required after the planting. 3. -The plant matures so rapidly that a crop can be gathered three months after sowing—that is three crops a year can be had. 4. —lts general nature is such, and the quantities enumerated above are such, that it can be grown upon what are now vast tracts of practically waste land, with comparatively little outlay of capital. 5. —The fibre has all the necessary qualities required for high class use, viz., strength, fineness, flexibility, and adaptibility for bleaching or dyeing. 6. Every portion of the plant can be used for some industrial purpose. The coarser grades of this fibre would come into competition with phormium tenax.

From the above it will be seen that not only are the present known fibres being extensively cultivated in new localities, but we have also quite a new fibre brought into the industrial, arena. What is New Zealand doing to maintain her position.as a’ pro-

ducer of hemp ? The growing flax is being cut out as last as the mills can do so, and very little is being done in the way of replanting. Now when the effects of the competition of the expended areas of hemp fibre, and the introduction of new fibres is felt, New Zealand will be unable to bear up, because of the insufficiency of the fibre. There is trouble ahead when prices drop, but the optimists decline to view the aspect of the position. Things are good now, and they prefer to hug the fact, rather than worry with what may happen later on.