THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1140, 30 August 1913, Page 4

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

UNSATISFACTORY QUALITY.

Unfortunately for the industry a high percentage of the hemp graded last month was of a distinctly unsatisfactory character, owing to the large amount of diseased leaf being worked. This, however, applies, principally to the Manawatu district. Very little fault can be found with the work of milling, except in regard to scutching, where carelessness resulted in many lines containing an undue proportion of ‘‘tow balls” and “taily” ends. This trouble can only be regarded as one of the evils of the contract system. In the rush to get through a large amount of material the quality of the work is ignored. It is to be regretted that many millers do not realise the importance of keeping really badly diseased leaf separate from the better quality. They overlook the fact that the value of the line must be determined by the most inferior portion. That is the principle on which the trade buys its raw material, and it is the principle which must be largely observed in the work of grading. In many cases the large percentage of really diseased and practically weak hemp included in parcels has resulted in the exportation of hemp which can only bring discredit on phormium-fibre on oversea markets. It is questionable if it really pays to mill some of the badly diseased hemp at present being utilized. In a few cases which came under my notice during the past month it would certainly have paid the miller to have discarded a good percentage of his leaf, as the higher value of the remaining fibre would have more than compensated him. IMPROVEMENT AT AUCKLAND PORT. Hemp received during the month at southern grading stores was of a satisfactory standard, except in the case of the Bluff, where the quality on the whole leaves much to be desired, especially as a good