THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1058, 18 June 1912, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Plaxcuttiug ou the Moutoa Estate ceased on Saturday, but the millers drawing their supplies from this source have a sufficient stock of green leaf on hand to keep their strippers going for another ten days or so. It is understood that a number of local millers will endeavour to continue stripping right through the winter. Whethe this course will be possible or not depends almost entirely on the weather. Provided it is possible to get the green leaf out of the swamp, however, the machinery will be kept going. Messrs Ross and Son, Awahou Milling Company, Ora Flaxmilling Company, and Messrs A. King and Co., have, it is understood, arranged for supplies of green leaf for the winter months. Messrs Coley and Bock will finish stripping about the end of next week, after which they intend to thoroughly overhaul their machinery iu preparation lor next season’s operations.

The erection of a new mill at Katere for Mr Donald Green is almost completed, and flaxcuttiug will be commenced in about a week’s time. It is stated that Whitaunui Limited intend running three strippers during the winter, and also that the A. and L. Seifert Flaxdressiug Company will keep the six strippers at the Mirauui mill going.

A well-known miller told our representative the other day, that the past season had been one ot the best he had experienced in regard to the amount of fibre turned out. During the season his output tor one stripper mill was something over 300 tons ot dry fibre. The capital ol the New Zealand Flax Machines Experimental Company Limited has been increased trom to ,£20,000 in shares ot £,l each. This Company is experimenting with new machinery and processes for dressing fiax at the Herstou mill, situated near . the Whirokiuo bridge. We hear that a local citizen, prominently connected with the hemp industry, is at present negotiating for the purchase of a flax property at Linton. If the negotiations are successful it is intended to erect a tour-stripper mill on the property, and to commence operations at the beginning of next season.