THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1429, 27 July 1915, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Mr. Kinnkar, a Victorian rope and binder twine manufacturer, is ou a business run to New Zealand, and has been on a visit to this district. The object of his crossing the Tasman is to endeavour to urge the shipping authorities to make better facilities for the more expeditious delivery of New Zealand hemp to Australian ports. In conversation with Mr Kiunear, he informed us that the holding up of hemp at this end by the shipping people at the present time was a serious matter to the Australian manufacturers, who had to complete large orders for binder twine for the coming season. He said that owing to the marked improvement in the manufacture of New Zealand hemp, due to grading conditions, there was now a good demand in Australia for New Zealand’s best grades. Some years ago the Australian manufacturers would not took at the New Zealand article, as it gave such trouble in making up. Now they could take

large quantities of the highest grades. He said the Australian demand this year would run into three thousand tons. The trouble at the present was the shipping difficulty. Asked whether the difficulty could not be overcome by chattering a vessel, be said that might result in placing the manufacturers in a worse position. From Mr Kinnear’s further remarks it appeared that the Australian demand for New Zealand hemp is worthy of closer attention by local millers than has obtained in the past. The quantity of hemp exported to Australia has been looked upon in the past as a negligible quantity, hut Mr Kinnear’s figures are somewhat of a revelation.