THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1005, 10 February 1912, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

FLAXCUTTING AND TRAM MING. ASSOCIATION CONSIDERING UNION’S DEMANDS. A meeting of the Executive oi the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association was held at Palmerston on Thursday, when the resolutior passed at the half-yearly meeting of the Flaxmills Employees' Union last Saturday as to the conditions of the cutters and trammers was discussed, It was decided tc write to the Union as follows : “It has been found absolutely necessary to call all the millers together again, and as the time you state is so short, and the matter of considerable importance, this cannot be done before Monday next, the 12th instant, when a general meeting has been called, which will be held at Foxton. The decision then arrived at will be conveyed to the Union on the following day.” DECEMBER GRADING RETURNS. The total number of bales of hemp graded during the mouth of December was 8,120, as compared with 13,233 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 5.113 bides. For the twelve months ending 31st December the number of bales . graded was 88,373. as compared with 130,449 for the previous twelve mouths, a decrease of 42,076 bales. During the month of December 2,306 bales of tow were dealt with, as compared with 4,328 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 2,032 bales. The total number of bales of hemp and tow graded at the different ports was as under: —

Six bales at Auckland, 13 at Foxtou, and four at Wellington were rejected. TOW.

Eighteen bales were condemned at Wellington, ' At Wellington 72 bales of stripper slips were passed tor export. The unseasonable weather has had a marked effect on hemp quality during the past month. The colour has sulfered seriously. The prevalence of strong winds disturbed much of the fibre in the dry-field, and where it escaped injury from this cause the weather was too rough to permit the fibre being turned. The result was that much ol the fibre had to be baled before it was properly bleached, and in consequence fibre w hich would otherwise have reached a “ good-lair ” grade had to be classed as “ lair.” A WEAK FOLICY. It is noticeable that some millers who are under contract to supply a “fair” grade hemp exhibit an unnecessary carelessness, stripuing too rough a fibre, which means that only a rough low-pointed “ fair ” hemp is secured. Where the stripping has been decently done it is only necessary, if a ‘‘good-lair’ 1 parcel is desired at any time, to scutch thoroughly well to obtain the desired result. THE LABEL QUESTION. It is gratifying to know chat the labels on export bales, about which so much complaint has been made, are showing a decided improvement in style. There are still, however, several cases where millers are failing to conform to the regulations. diseased leaf. While the Wairarapa phormium was singularly healthy last year, diseased leaf is very common in the swamps of the district this season. This is having a serious effect on fibre quality. COLOUR. Where improved mechanical means of catching and washing have not been adopted the colour of the fibre is very unsatisfactory, and too often is effectively preventing the fibre reaching a high grade. , Unless the most up-to-date appliances are adopted careful work is largely discounted. Even, however, where the most modern methods are employed the benefit of these is not always being realized owing to careless work in 1 stripping. The benefit ot improved 1 machinery is only noticeable where the workmanship is maintained at a high standard. PROSPECTS. The outlook for millers is much , better, but Manila hemp is still in large supply, while the demand for binder-twine is not as good as

it was anticipated it would be, Tow, however, is in strong demand everywhere. Under the circumstances, it is gratifying to know that the tow being shipped is of an I all round good description, very little third grade coming to hand, MACHINERY FOR STRIPPING ABACA. At the recent Fibre Congress in Java several abaca (Manila hemp) stripping-machines, made in France and England, also one from the Philippines and one from the United States, were shown and tested. Most of the trials in stripping abaca by machinery indicated, says the Cordage Trade Journal, that further improvements are desired, either in the capacity of the machines or in the efficiency, as shown bj the waste or by the quality of the fibre.—Mr W. H. Ferris in the January issue of the Journal of the Department of Agriculture.

PORT. HEMP TOW. Auckland 667 70 Napier 91 29 Foxton 3529 900 Wellington 3550 III9 Picton 96 39 Lyttelton — 76 Dunedin S5 24 Bluff 302 49 The number of bales in each grade were as follows HEMP. Port. Fine. Good Fr. Fair C Auckland — 63 597 1 Napier — — — Foxton 6 ii73 2115 22 Wellington 14 1996 1490 46 Picton 62 34 — — Dunedin 3 23 59 — Bluff 47 248 7

Port. First Second Third Grade. Grade. Grade. Auckland 10 60 — Napier — 29 — Foxton 257 561 82 Wellington 306 627 168 Picton 34 — 5 Lyttelton 36 40 — Dunedin — 24 — Bluff — 21 28