HEMP GRADING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1081, 3 April 1913, Page 3

HEMP GRADING.

millers dissatisfied

The flaxmillers in this district are very dissatisfied with the grades awarded for their hemp during the past few days. A number of prominent millers were in Foxton to-day to protest against what they claim is an unjustifiable rise in the standard of hemp grading, and as a result there is no doubt that representations will be made to the Department to have the previous standard adhered to. If this new standard of grading is adhered to it will mean a very serious loss to the millers as most of them are working on contracts for grades based on the previous standard, and if the* new standard is permanently adopted it will mean that they will be practically unable to fulfil their present contracts. It is stated that the reason for the raising of the standard is on account ot the continual complaints from the merchants and manufacturers that the present standard grades are too low. The present rise is said to be anything from four to six points, so it can readily be seen that if this is so, the millers have good grounds for complaint. We understand tha! a large number of parcels of hemp graded locally yesterday reached only a “common” grade, whereas the millers maintain it should have graded " fair.” Complaints are not confined to Foxton, however, the same condition of affairs being in existence at all the other grading ports. The whole trouble is that the standards cf the different grades have been raised, which the millers complain is not justified. It is to be hoped that when the matter is referred to the Department some satisfactory solution of the difficulty will take place.