THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1086, 23 December 1911, Page 4

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

NOVEMBER GRADING RETURNS. The total number of bales of hemp graded during the month of November was 8,666, as compared with 11,986 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 3,320 bales. For the twelve months ended 30th November the number of bales graded was 93,486 as compared with 131,878 for the previous twelve months, a decrease of 38,392 bales. During the month 2,228 bales of tow were dealt with, as compared with 3,966 for the corresponding month ot last year, a decrease of 1,738 bales The total number of bales of hemp and tow graded at the dilfereut ports was as follows : Foxton 3860 bales of hemp and 915 bales of low, Wellington 3697 and 1137, Auckland 597 and 36, Bluff 269 and 34, Picton 131 and 83, Dunedin 86 and 12, Lyttleton 26 and 11. The number of bales in each grade was as under :

Nine bales received at Foxtou was graded as “superior,” the only line of this grade throughout the Dominion. At both Wellington and Foxtou iS bales of hemp were rejected.

EXPANDING AND IMPROVING OUTPUT. The output of mills in the principal manufacturing centre —the Mauawatu district —exhibited a considerable advance last mouth, while the quality of the hemp was appreciably better in practically all branches of the work of milling. A Foxton miller sent forward a “superior” line, the first lime this grade has been reached in that section. The principal improvement noticeable has been in stripping, washing and strength. The dominant weakness has been in the scutching, with the result that the fibre has not been as free from vegetable matter as it should have been, a weakness which is the cause of more complaint from the trade than all other defects. Only in a few cases have the objectionable tow-balls been removed.

STRIPPER-SLIPS. Some years ago the fibre lost in the stripping process, termed iu the trade “stripper-slips,” was saved and marketed. Where decent care had been taken to ship it dry and in good order a payable return was secured on the British market. This waste material was not officially graded, and iu the absence of any check on the quality exported millers became careless and shipped the “stripperslips” iu a wet and matted condition. The result was to be expected : the trade was killed. Now inquiries are being received by local merchants for experimental supplies of “stripper-slips,” and several millers have expressed their desire to meet the demand. There is therefore opportunity for a trade iu this material —and a means thereby of reducing cost of fibre production being established. That the chance now being presented may not lead to a repetition ol the former experience iu marketing this waste matter it will be necessary to grade the ‘‘stripper-slips,” and thereby ensure that only a marketable product is exported. The manufacturers who are inquiring for strip-per-slips are stipulating for good colour and freedom from dirt and rubbish. The slips would be vastly improved it, as they left the stripper, they were placed iu a trough of water, to be cleaned as far as possible ot any extraneous matter, and then roughly teased, to make them as free as possible. If wire netting fixed to a frame were placed over a portion of the trough a good means would be secured ol draining the material, and thereby facilitating the drying and bleaching processes. MARLBOROUGH CONDITIONS. (July two Marlborough mills are working at the present time.

Others have been unable to commence operations owing to royalties being considered too high to permit hemp being milled profitably at present market values. THK WAIRARAPA. Hemp milling in the Wairarapa is taking on a new lease of life. Four mills are in operation, and are turning out a decent fibre —a “fair” grade. The leaf available is not in good enough order to permit of the profitable milling of a higher grade. INFERIOR TAGS. Considerable trouble is still being caused by some millers failing to conform to the regulations in regard to tags. Instead of an unstained leather label being employed, a flimsy black tag is used. Thus the brand is undecipherable, and all concereed in the handling of the hemp are inconvenienced. the market. At the present time the demand for hemp is from London, practically no inquiries being received from America or Australia, and the price obtained is just payable. Tow is in a good position. It was at £g first grade, £8 5s second, and £7 5s third in the beginning of November, but has since receded a little. DISEASED LEAF. Millers are naturally concerned at the high proportion of diseased leaf they have had to deal with of late, especially as to how it will affect the grading of their parcels. It may be definitely stated that though diseased leaf may be present it is not impossible that parcels may get into “good fair” grade. It is necessary, however, if this standard is to be reached with such leaf that the stripping and scutching should be as effective as possible. Though the points for colour and strength would necessarily, by reason of the percentage of diseased leaf, suffer, the fact ot good stripping and scutching would counter-balance this, and enable the hemp to get into the grade/ though not as a high-pointed parcel. —Mr W. H. Ferris in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture.

Port Hkmp. Fine G.Fair Fair Com. Fox ton 74 1824 1878 57 Wellington 40 2030 1580 29 Auckland — — 590 7 Bluff 6 3 260 — Picton 117 13 1 — Dunedin — — 73 13 Dyltleton 26 — —■ —

1st Tow. 2nd 3rd Port Grade Grade Grade Con’d. Foxton 267 53S 110 — W’ll’gt’n 484 557 28 68 Auckland 13 23 — — Picton 83 — — — Bluff — y 14 I I Dunedin — — 12 — Dyttletou — 11 — —