THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1047, 23 September 1911, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

AUGUST GRADING

RETURNS

The total number of bales of hemp graded during the month of August was 5,237, as compared with 4,181 for the corresponding mouth ot last year, an increase ol 1,056 bales. For the twelve months ending 31st August the number graded was 98,091, as compared with 124,804 tor the previous twelve months, a decrease of 26,713 bales. During the mouth 1,128 bales of tow were dealt with, as compared with 1,228 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 00 bales.

The number of bales ol the different grades dealt with at each port was as under :

In addition to the above 4 bales were rejected at Auckland, 4 at Foxton aud 21 at Wellington. At Auckland one bale of hemp was condemned.

Three bales were condemned at Wellington. THE OUTLOOK. In the current issue of the journal of the Department of Agriculture, Mr W. H. Ferris, chief hemp grader, writes as follows under the above heading : Mills in the Manawatu aud Wairarapa districts have recommenced operations, but in other hempproducing sections of the Dominion mills a: .■ :.i idle. The present outlook does not warrant any great activity in phonuium-pre-duction. Good fair is now only worth £l7 a ton, a rate which had led to quite a number of millers having accumulated stocks on hand. They were holding back for a rise in value, and the reverse has taken place. Even, however, at present prices a considerable extension of operations is probable in the Manawatu. Some of the leading mills propose working two shifts, while several new mills will be In operation. BRINGING PLANTS UP-TO-DATE. It is satisfactory to know that during the off-months a number of plants have been brought up-to-date by the installation of new labour-saving appliances, while improved strippers are now generally in vogue. One mill is to be run by a gas-producing plant. A Foxtou miller has provided an effective means of drying his fibre. He has erected in a good level paddock no less than seven and a half miles of drying-fences, aud is therefore now in a position to bleach to advantage aud with a minimum of loss. Unfortunately, too mauy mills have not the bleaching facilities they should have. TOW-BALING REGULATIONS. Several complaints have beeu received from the Home trade that the low-grading regulations of the Department have not beeu adhered to, and that in consequence confusion aud annoyance has resulted. The regulations state that the height of a bale must not be more than 4ft., that the tags must be of unstained leather, aud that the brand, etc., must be impressed with black ink. In the shipments complained of the bales were about sft. in height, aud the tags were of black leather, which meant that the brand and grade mark were undescipherable. The millers concerned have been repeatedly warned, and it has now been decided that in future the regulations will be strictly enforced.

ILLUSTRATING UP-TO-DATE METHODS.

At the Dunedin Winter Show a fine series of pictures illustrating the work of milling at a thoroughly up-to-date Manavvatu mill was displayed. The educative effect was realised, southern millers being greatly impressed with the demonstration. In fact, as a result several South Island millowners have journeyed to the North Island to inspect the original of the pictures, with the object of copying the methods there in vogue. Unfortunately, in the South much of the leaf is growing in scattered locations, and is also short in length. This adds to the cost of fibre-production, and restricts extensive operations. DISEASED LEAF. Recently I had an opportunity of inspecting several southern swamps, and found that the leaf was considerably affected with disease, as well as being grubeaten. The trouble, however, is no worse than it was in the Manawatu swamp last season. The leaf in the latter district has not promised to be too clean this season ; but it may be that the recent heavy flood in the Mauawatu will improve the position so far as that locality is concerned. MANILA, According to reports which have reached the department, a machine has at last been invented which promises to prove entirely successful in the milling of abacafibre. Official reports of trials of the machine go to show that it produces a much superior fibre to that obtained by the crude and

laborious method of hand stripping iu vogue in the Philippines, and that it saves considerably on the cost of labour. It is also said to be capable of being transported with ease from plantation to plantation. It is unnecessary to point out that the new stripper, if it maintains its experimental claims in practice, will revolutionize the manila industry.

Port. HEM I’. Good Fine Fair FaiiCom, Auckland — 77 299 25 Foxton 6 613 1,388 75 Wellington 76 841 1,141 88 Picton 54 217 — — Dunedin — 71 50 — Bluff — 72 114 —■

Port TOW. ISt Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade Auckland — 72 7 Foxton 185 230 — Wellington 96 293 112 Blenheim 19 — — Picton 14 23 — Dunedin — 74 —