HEMP FIBRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 12 June 1909, Page 3

HEMP FIBRE.

NEW ZEALAND’S OUTPUT. EAGER BUYERS FOR GOOD QUALITIES. The May report of the Chief Fibre Expert (Mr C, J. Fulton) shows that the hemp exported during the month was 88 bales fewer than the number in April, but ix 14 bales more than the number in May of last year. The figures, however, for the entire year ended May 31, showed a decrease of nearly 40,000 bales below the figures of the previous year. The bales graded last month numbered 6476 the number for six and 12 months ended May 31 in this year and the previous year were as follows: 1908 1909 For sixm’t’hs 67,659 47,179 For 12 „ 114,944 75)47° The quality generally has been well maintained. Wellington and Foxton continue to show an improvement in quality, 65 per cent, of their combined output having been of fine and good fair grades, as against 50 per cent, for the month of April. It is predicted that shortly the pride of place, hitherto held by Marlborough and Canterbury for quality, will be gained by the Wellington district. This improvement is attributed to the installation of recently-invented flax washing machines at several Manawatu mills, which not only enables an excellent quality to be attained, but also lessens the cost of production by saving the labour of two men in each case.

Millers are encouraged to strive for a higher quality by the fact that Australian consumers are eager buyers of fine grade, sales having recently been made on a basis of 10s. f.0.b., when the market value of good fair was only ,£l9 10s. During the past fortnight prices offered by New Zealand buyers for good fair deliveries to the end of the year, have advanced 30s per ton, viz., from £l9 10s to £2l. Although the High Commissioner’s cable message, under date May 29, indicated a rise of only 5s per ton, and no further rise on June 5, for forward and spot sales, on the London market, there are actual enquiries from that quarter at 10s advance; also, simultaneously from America, at £1 higher. The quantity turned out by Wellington is 3025 bales, of which 1830 were good fair grade. This was the highest output for the Dominion, the next highest being 1155 bales, from Foxton. The tow graded amounted to 1702 bales, of which Wellington contributed 621 bales, comprising 45 No. 1 grade, 400 No. 2 grade, and 175 No. 3 grade.