HEMP GRADING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 31 December 1907, Page 2

HEMP GRADING.

The hemp-gradir, like every other public man, not forgetting the constable—vho dees fils duty fearlessly and j ithout respect to r person's, is boujsl to fall foul of some' one. Ir he/lacks moral courage, desple his practical and •theoretical knowledge of fidre, £~-. ;

is liable to fall a victim to any bullying miller whose “ common ” should be graded “fair.’' Some time ago, the New Zealand Times published an opinion from a miller, expressing dissatisfarlon with the grading at the local port. Now, when a miller makes a charge of this description in the press against a man who is not allowed to defend himself—save to his chief—the miller should hit fairly, and give reasons for such assertion. We have made inquiry in respect to the grading at the local sheds, and. find that there are no grounds for complaint. It is true that one or two millers were disappointed that their fibre did not reach a higher standard of quality than they anticipated, but the fault was their’s. Mr Petrie is recognised as one of the most experienced graders in the Dominion, and we say, without fear of contradiction, that since his arrival here, there has been a marked improvement in the hemp dumped at the local sheds. 'He has also imparted his knowledge to millers, and tendered advice and, further, has treated one and all with the utmost courtesy. have information in regard to grading at the local sheds which, if published, would reflect the highest credit upon the local grader, who, in our opinion has been subjected to an unfair attack, and from one of the “whitest” millers in the Manawatu.