THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1002, 28 September 1912, Page 4

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Mr E. E. Broad, acting president of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association, has received the following interesting budget from the president, Mr J. Eiggins, now on tour in Europe in the interests of the flax industry and the ,£12,000 bonus : “On my arrival in Germany I at once placed myself in communication with the gentlemen to whom I was accredited by Mr Focks, German Consul. I also called on the British Consuls at Munich and at Berlin. Both gentlemen were very courteous and obtained for me the names ot all the leading scientific men of Germany who were likely to take up the matter of improvement in process or utilisation of waste products, I obtained interviews whenever possible. I found, however, a great disinclination to take the matter up as they were quite in ignorance of the plant or our present method of working. Their ideas appeared to be restricted to the hemp of Europe, particulars of which I will report on later. Also being busi ness men they said it was uot a business proposition at all for them to give their attention and close application to the researches to enable them to compete under the conditions and in the end not be successful as a competitor. I had several letters from leading analysts offering to take up the work if we could agree to pay the cost, either by a contracted price or pay the cost of an investigator to be sent out to New Zealand. I only found one man willing to take the matter up. Professor Eeinveber, of Chemnitz. This gentlemen met me by appointment in Berlin. The outcome ot our conversation was that he would take the matter up. I have heard from him several times and the High Commissioner has forwarded to him fibre for experimental purposes. Professor Eeinveber also writes me to say that he has obtained phormium leaves from Dresden and he is continuing his studies of our requirements. I spent two days in Munich, and three in Berlin. Since then I have bad enquiries for information from the Continent and asking me to go back to meet them at places so rar apart as Cologne, Dresden and Berlin. I always forwarded the pamphlet issued by the Association and gave them very full information inviting them to meet me in London and expect in some cases that the gentlemen will make such an appointment. In Eondon I presented my credentials to the High Commissioner and was treated with great courtesy. The High Commissioner gave instructions that all foreign letters should be translated and that I receive every assistance from the officers ot the Department. Mr H. C. Cameron, Product Commissioner, has been very useful indeed, placing at my disposal all the correspondence in his department on fibre matters, and took me to all the merchants and scientific men known to him who would be likely to help us. The High Commissioner purchased a bale of good fair hemp and negotiated with the St. Helena officials for the supply of green leaf. These the department distribute to applicants and persons that I may suggest for experimental purposes. Amongst the persons who are endeavouring to solve our problems in England are Mr Stewart Cox, Reform Club, Pall Mall, a ' director of the Newark Electrical Co., Mr S. Diggle, of Eevenshultne, Manchester, bleacher, dyer and merceriser, and the Stockport Ramie Mantle Co., a firm who manufacture mantles for lamps, using in their progress ramie or China grass. I have been privileged by an admission to the works of Mr Diggle and the Ramie Co., and Mr Cox is only waiting some experiments with phormium to fulfil a promise of admittance to his works. I asked the High Commission to request Sir Wm. Ramsay, probably the highest authority in England on commercial industrial investigations, for an interview with me. Sir William courteously made an appointment and we had a most interesting conversation. He regretted that he was unable to take up the work, as he was due at an early date in America on a lecturing tour. He, however, gave me the names of two firms who be asserted knew all there was to know in fibre knowledge from a scientific standpoint, viz., Cross and Bevan, analysts, 3 and 4 New Court, Eincolns Inn, and Frank Birdwood, Eloyds Avenue, Feuchurch Street. These gentlemen I interviewed with Mr H. C. Cameron. Mr Birdwood has no t time to take up the work. He, however, en-

trusted to the High Commissioner and myself a secret progress of treating flax by chemical baths only, and I am to treat the green leaf on my return and post the resultant fibre to Mr Birdwood for further development. Messrs Cross and Bevan appeared to be in a very large way in chemical research, and we interviewed Mr Cross amidst retorts and bottles galore, and analytical research in full swing. He appeared to have a staff of men engaged in their investigations every day. Whilst there Mr Cross showed us samples of their research work. A boxful of silks of various brilliant colours and of white. These silks had been manufactured from wood pulp. A large piece of wax had been collected from the stalk of the hemp plant and was of great value as a by-product. This exhibit was most suggestive and caused me to remember the dust in our stripping mills and to have grave misgivings as to my descriptions of the bright surface on our flax leaf in our ‘hemp industry’ being correct. I called it siliceous or flinty. May it not be rather a valuable wax ? Mr Cross explained to us the valuable products obtained from ramie grass. We were surprised to hear that this firm had been engaged by Sir Julias Vogel many years ago to make a report on phormium tenax and its industrial possibilities. This report bad been completed and delivered to Sir Julius. Unfortunately no record of the report can be found at the High Commissioner’s office. It may perhaps be lound in Eondon. So that this firm were familiar with our requirements. Mr Cross remembered that at this time they were greatly struck with the high percentage of fibre obtained by them, 20 per cent of fibre being obtained from the green leaf. They were also struck with the length of the ultimate fibre. No further action was taken by Sir Julius Vogel. Mr Cross, however, remembered the circumstances and stated that phormium does present a case for further investigation. And this opinion is strengthened by the vast accumulation ot fibre possibilities from present day knowledge, a knowledge that is the outcome of thirty years’ investigations since their report. Mr Cross considered the bonus proposition not a business proposition at all, as no firm of repute would attempt the perhaps impossible, i.e,, do a vast amount of research work only to be told the Flaxmillers’ Committee and the Department had not considered their processes worthy of trial. We told him we were without power to alter the conditions and asked him to present his case in writing, and this has been done in his letters of 10th and 13th August to the High Commissioner, copies ot which I enclose. Remembering the late of the previous bonus, which you are aware was never claimed, I fear such may be the fate of the present bonus at least as far as scientific research is concerned, and I now regret that our want of knowledge as to the view that investigators would take ot the condition that prevented us inserting some clause as to payment of work done by chosen men of science. I do not think it now too late, and I see no reason why we should not ask the Minister to permit an amendment to the conditions, which would enable us to engage Mr Doglas Bowack, Messrs Cross and Sevan’s nominee, for one or two years’ scientific research in phormium possibilities in New Zealand. The payment for his services, which I presume would cover Cross and Sevan’s, to be taken out of the .£12,000, and such payment should not preclude Cross and Bevan from participation in the balance, if earned. Mr Cross’ first suggestion in his letter of the xoth August was fully explained at our conference. This suggestion was that a new report be made on the lines of one and two and of A and B, this report to be printed along with such a pamphlet as “Our Flax Industry,” but on much larger lines, and the whole published throughout the world for competition as now. I explained we already had very fully advertised stating I could not see the utility of bringing the matter in any other form to scientists at this stage, seeing that it was extremely improbable that we should do better than to avail ourselves of the great knowledge ot Cross and Bevan themselves. After a long discussion, the second scheme was evolved, and I think this is the best we can do. I advise you to immediately call a meeting and consider the matter carelully. And if you so decide, interview the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and obtain his consent to the appointment as suggested by Cross and

Bevan, and if possible, interview the new High Commissioner before he leaves New Zealand, so that he may be able to assist me in the matter of the agreement, and on this point a lead from you would be highly valued. Should you miss the Hon. T. Mackenzie, I expect I shall not sail before he takes up his duties here. I do not see from my present knowledge how a scientist can assist us to develop our waste products or to assist by scientific methods our present process, except he is on the spot.”

Amongst the enclosures referred to is the following letter from Messrs Cross and Bevan to the High Commissioner: — roth August, iqi2.

Dear Sir, —I beg to confirm the result of our conference of yesterday, jointly with Mr Eiggins and Mr Christie, of Ide and Christie. You will have appreciated that Mr Christie and I have a strong opinion, based on principles, that phormium does present a case for such a movement as you have in hand. There are specially favourable lundamental factors of value ;

1. High yield ot separated fibre to green weight. 2. Eength, fineness and form of the ultimate unit fibre, and from what you report, as weli as from previous official reports, it is clear that yon have a considerable margin of potential improvement to go upon. Our view is that to clear the ground, and make the premium appeal to technologists and practical inventors as fruitful as possible. and with saving of time you should consider the preparation of a scientific commercial expose of the elements of the problem : (a) What are the maxima of values possible for fibre and fibrous bye-products ? (b) What are the minima of costs of production, i.e., direct or positive costs, and indirect lowering of these by utilisation of byeproducts. Secondly, our sending out of a trained man to apply industrial scientific principles on the spot, and in working touch with your producers.

For such a scheme we should consider, say, £IOOO a sufficient provision, and in such a scheme you could command the active cooperation of myself and firm, together with a specially qualified and trained man whom we would introduce to you.