THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1089, 26 April 1913, Page 4

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Notwithstanding the splendid values ruling ior high-quality fibre, the phormium hemp graded in the Dominion last month was of a most disappointing character. Especially is the position unsatisfactory when it is remembered that the mining plant hes been greatly improved durirg the last few years, thereby making it possible to produce a much freer and better coloured fibre. The principal cause of the serious dedecline in quality is, in my opinion, poor stripping, due either to a desire to strip more fibre than the stripper is capable of treating effectively, to careless work on the part of the stripper-keeper, or the employment of inexperienced men. In many cases the phormium leaf has been merely split, owing to the stripper not being maintained at the correct set, due either to a desire on the part of the miller to rush as much leaf through as possible irrespective of quality, or to carelessness, on the part of the stripper-keeper. For the same reason much of the hemp has been bruised, and thereby reduced in strength. The stripping being bad, after-processes have failed to correct the weakness. Where the vegetation has not been properly removed from the fibre, no system of washing or bleaching will ensure a good colour. Where the stripping has been satisfactory the fibre has had in a few cases to be graded down owing to the poor scutching, and bad scutching is often more serious from the cordage manufacturers’ point of view than bad stripping. The latter may leave considerable vegetable matter adhering to the fibre, and may cause it to have a poor colour, but the fibre will not be knotted or towy. Of course, it is impossible to properly scutch fibre bruised in the stripping process. The more such fibre is scutched the worse its condition becomes.

It is not forgotten that some mills have badly diseased leaf to deal with—leaf from which nothing but a common grade can be produced ; but these mills are excluded from the above remarks. Some of the best mills in the country, having a good leaf to deal with, are turning out the unsatisfactory fibre. Not for six or seven years has such a high percentage of low-grade fibre reached the grading stores. There is little doubt it is chiefly due to the high values ruling, as the unsatisfactory milling work became noticeable last November, and has continued to the present time, being very accentuated last month. Between the previous and the present boom the general standard of our fibre was excellent. Certainly, only the best mills were working at the lower values, but these were palpably intent on aiming at quality rather than quantity. Now, as in the previous boomlime, the position is reversed, and everything is apparently being sacrificed to quantity. More money may be made by turning out a huge output of low-grade fibre, which can be sold at a high price, but it is doubtful if it is more profitable even now than milling a superior article, and is certainly against a permanent demand for phormium, the reputation of which is • being imperilled by the present short-sighted policy. There is a big demand for “good-fair” fibre, but there is no fibre of this quality available—a matter for very great regret, as good-fair has been our standard quality for binder twine. It this grade is not obtainable, cordage manufacturers will be compelled to use other' fibres for this purpose, to our permanent disadvantage. Australian binder-twine manufacturers would take New Zealand good-fair in preference to Manila, but as the former is unobtainable, they are being forced to use Manila. Even our highpointed fair cannot be used for binder twine, owing tp beiqg too coarse and wiry.

A very bad feature of some lines coming forward is that, evidently with the idea of utilising every scrap of fibre, some hanks are being ‘'faced' 1 wjtfi good fibre, giving the drawn hank the appear? ance of being decent quality ; but

when the hank is opened up for inspection it is found to contain hemp of a very inferior description. This has not occurred for some years, and Is to be deplored. At a time like the present it is particularly unfortunate, as the graders are busy enough with a record output to deal with without having to examine more banks than should be necessary in order to discover if the “facing” trick is in evidence. As a consequence, strict instructions have been issued to the graders to examine the hemp as thoroughly as possible. I am continually expecting to have complaints as to grading, owing to the apparent prevalence of the “facing” deception. The only districts turning out decent-quality fibre at the present time are Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Canterbury. The 'poor quality is confined to Auckland, Wellington, and Southland districts- Westland fibre is not so bad, but has gone back in quality owing to defective scutching of the tail-ends.

Stripper-slips have in many cases been coming to band in a damp, and even wet condition. A considerable number of bales have had to be condemned in consequence.

Needless to say, tow has been unsatisfactory—its quality is a reflex of that of the hemp. Condemnations on account of bad shaking and poor colour have been general.—Mr W. H. Ferris, in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture.

MARCH GRADING RETURNS.

The total number of bales of hemp graded during the month of March was 17,553, as compared with 9,343 for the corresponding mouth of last year, an increase of 8,210 bales. For the twelve months ending March 31st, 1913, the number of bales graded was 120,542, as compared with 85,684 for the previous twelve months, the increase being 34,858 bales. Dining the month, 6,439 bales of tow were dealt with, as compared with 2,678 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 3,761 bales. For the twelve months ending 31st March. 1913, the number of bales graded was 39,933, as compared with 23,433 for the previous twelve months, the increase being 16,500 bales.

HEMP. The number of bales of hemp graded at the different ports was: Auckland 3,857, Napier 449, Foxton 4,194, Wellington 5,332, Blenheim 226, Picton 615, Dunedin 743, and Bluff 2,137. The hemp dealt with was graded as under: —

Fifty bales at Auckland, six at Foxton, and eleven at Wellington were rejected, and 28 bales at Auckland condemned. TOW.

STRIPPER SLIPS. Passed for shipment: Auckland 85, Napier 12, Foxton 390, Wellington 800, Blenheim 16, Picton 2, Dunedin 11, Bluff 81—total, 1.397- Condemned : Auckland 18, Foxton 107, Wellington 89, Dunedin 4, Bluff 17—total, 233.

Port. Fine. Good Fair. Fair. Com. Auckland — 58i 2,598 600 Napier 189 184 76 — Foxton — 942 2,962 284 Wellington 1 — i ,140 3.583 596 Blenheim 60 in 55 —* Picton 178 7i 252 114 Dunedin 22 246 452 23 Bluff — 379 1,686 72

Port. First Grade. n <ij c no Third Grade. Cond. Total. Auckland 9 424 1,025 264 1,722 Napier — 94 60 - 154 Foxton 137 628 252 II 1,028 Wel’gt’n 269 1,143 616 60 2,088 Blenheim 46 21 68 — 135 Picton US 47 62 — 224 Dunedin — 74 181 — 255 Bluff 14 285 467 67 833