THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 22 June 1909, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

SISAL FIBRE. WILL IT KILL OUR HEMP NQTES ON ITS GROWTH The revival of the Manila out put began with the end of thi Spanish-American war and thi substitution of the American foi Spanish rule. For from that stag< the development of the industry was attended with a confidence which justified the introduction 01 machinery. It was contended al first that the machine-made Manila would be inferior to the fibre hitherto dressed by native hands, but defects in this direction were bound to be scarcely more than temporary. The seriousness oi Manila competition arises from the fact that Manila fibre can be used for most purposes for which our hemp is suited. Sisal hemp is being produced in fast-increasing quantities _in Mexico and Yucatan, and it is also a promising industry in Queensland. 1 Nearly two years ago the sisal danger was so far realised by New Zealand flaxmillers that sample plants of sisal were obtained from Queensland and planted at Tokomaru. It was then suggested that the sisal industry should be established on a large scale in New Zealand if it proved suited to the climate. The plants imported consisted of 2000 specially - selected, well-rooted suckers of the two principal commercial varieties —namely, the sisal of Yucatan (Agava Rigida, var. elongata) and the sisal of the Bahamas and Florida (Agava Rigida, var. sisalana). The latter, also known as helequen, was considered the most important. Whether the trials with these plants at Tokomaru were encouraging has not been an-

nounced. Sisal is a plant of the aloe species, and a native of Mexico and Central America. It is accustomed, therefore, to a warmer climate than that of New Zealand. The prepared fibre is very similar in texture and quality to New Zealand hemp. The blade of the plant is thicker than the leaf of New Zealand flax, but the milling process is very similar. About two years ago, Messrs L. Seifert, and W. G. Smith, two of New Zealand’s big flaxmillers, visited the sisal fields of Queensland, tor the purpose of seeing the results of the experiments being conducted on the growing ot the plant. On their return, they made a report of their impressions. They stated that only very small areas were under cultivation there, and an adequate trial had, therefore, hot been possible. They considered that at least from 500 to 1000 acres of the plant needed to be grown before any tests could be considered conclusive. That would involve the investment of considerabl; capital, and, on the whole, they believed there was no immediate likelihood of sisal fibre from Queensland competing against New Zealand hemp. Among the difficulties associated with sisal growing, they mentioned that the plant lives for only about seven years, / so that the plantations have to l)e periodically renewed. This resulted in much loss of crop, for the young plants did not reach cutting age till they were four years old. Cultivation is a necessary part of sisal growing, and this introduces the labour

trouble. Just as the sugarcane industry is being hampered in * Queensland, for want ot cheap labour, so is there danger of the sisal industry there being strangled in its infancy by the same cause. The plants cost about £3 per thousand, and a thousand occupy an acre. The annual cost of cultivation is estimated at about per acre. On this account, the selling value of the fibre would need to be considerably higher than that of New Zealand hemp, in order to pay the same interest on outlay. The Yucatan article (said Messrs Seifert and Smith) at that time was fetching slightly more than New Zealand hemp. The fibre was very similar in strand and colour to ' the best New Zealand hemp, and its quality would enable it to hold a good position in the markets. The Yucatan Government appears to have regarded the sisal industry with an even more jealous eye than New Zealanders cast upon their hemp industry in the palmier days, for the exportation of plants was discouraged in every way. Now, however,'that the plant has once reached Queensland, it is .not longer possible to restrict its spread, if its industrial value in these parts were ever proved.