THE HEMP INDYSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 440, 3 November 1908, Page 4

THE HEMP INDYSTRY.

Tow Grading

The geenral meeting of the Flaxmillers’ Association was held as Palmerston yesterday. Present : Messrs H. Greig (President), M. Cohen, A. Seifert, Brown, R. T. Bell, Tennant, C. C. Higginsou, Joseph Biggins and Capt. Gardner. Mr A. J. Toogood, Wairarapa, wrote suggesting that as tow grading was likely to become an accomplished fact the Government should be asked to see that tow quotations were included in the High Commissioner’s weekly report. —It was resolved to ask the Agricultural Department to comply with the request. The President, Mr H. Greig, read a lengthy and interesting report of his visit to Wellington, with Mr Tennant, and his interview with Departmental officials re the tow grading regulations. Mr Greig reported having given demonstrations of dumping the bales at less cost in order to bring about a reduction of expenses in that connection, which, it is hoped, will be successful. He interviewed stripping companies as to the reduction of freight rates, which is to be referred to the conference of Shipping Companies at Dunedin, and the best is hoped for. He referred to the threatened throttling of the industry by adverse legislation, and pointed out how necessary it was for millers to pull together and help to keep the industry alive. The projected regulations for tow grading had been approved by the Executive except that requiring five lashings to a bale, the Executive considered four ample, as the lashings were only to keep the bale in good order and condition, until it was received in Wellington where it is subjected to dumping and canvassing for export. The recommendation of the Executive in this matter was unanimously approved. He had discussed at length with the Department the long standing grievance under which millers had been suffering, owing to the Department’s insistance that the lashings for hemp be manufactured from hemp instead of tow, as generally usedf The final results of his representations were that the Department is likely to rescind the regulation insisting upon hemp lashings, and substitute tow, subject to its being well manufactured and the weight not exceeding 3lbs per bale. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs H. Greig and Tennant for their work it: Wellington in connection with the regula* lions, and to Mr H. Greig for his comprehensive and lucid report.