HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 502, 2 November 1909, Page 3

HEMP INDUSTRY.

LOCAL FIGURES FOR OCTOBER.

The total number of bales of hemp graded at the-local port by Mr Petrie, Government Hemp Grader, for the month ended 30th October, 1909, was : Two thousand and sixty-five bales. This is an increase over the previous month of eight hundred and ninety-six bales, and for the corresponding month of 1908, an increase of one thousand and forty-three bales. During the latter part of the month the quality improved considerably, this no doubt being due to more favourable weather conditions, The hemp submitted was graded as follows :

G.F. F. Com. Rej’c’d. Tl. 1165 881 18 1 2065

A MONTH’S WORK RECORDED.

REVIVAL. EXPECTED,

The September report of the grading of hemp and tow, Issued by Mr C. Clifton, who now controls that division, was published recently. , It slates that the total bales graded numbered 4562, of which the Wellington province contributed 53.96 per cent. The proportions of the various grades in this quantity are shown in. the following percentage figures : Fine. G.F. F. Com! Rej’c’d. 5.2 4C.8 41.4 (5.07 .35

“The percentage of ‘good fair’ ” says the report, “has not been so great as might have been anticipated, but this is attributed to the unsuitable weather causing a loss of colour points. As compared with the previous month there was an increase of 2162 bales, but a decrease of 68 bales from the figures of the corresponding mouth of last year. “For the six months ended September 30th, the number of bales graded was 08,991, as compared with 27,246 for the corresponding period of last year, an increase of 1745 bales. A number of mills are re-opening, and a considerable increase in output may be expected from now onwards. “The local prices for ‘good fair’ and ‘fair’ have been steadily advancing since the end of last month. ‘Fine’ is in good demand for Australian requirements, but the lower grades are not much sought after. It appears anomalous that although the Home markets rule prices, practically all the fine and higher-pointed ‘good fair’ grades shipped from Wellington are secured by the Australian manufacturers, “The tow dealt with during the month amounted to 1146 bales, an increase of 487 over the quantity of the preceding month.” The distribution of the hemp production and the grade proportions are shown in the following figures

The tow which came horn Auckland consisted of 399 bales, Foxton 99, Wellington 515, Picton 54, Dunedin 30, Bluff 43. The grading was as follows: —No. x quality, 370 bales ; No. •2, 349 ; No. 3, 391 ; condemned, 30.

F. a.F. 1'V Com. lle.i’c’d Tl Auckland 211 800 93 90S). - !»GU 584 18 — 1169 Wellington Hi7 1288 314 182 I-i 1923 Picton a 23 43 — — 1B7 Dunedin .... InO — — 150 Bluff — m 202 8 “ 277 Totals 238 2138 1803 277 18 4582