THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1529, 30 March 1916, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

SHORTAGE OF TONNAGE

For some months past the stock of hemp in the different stores in the Dominion has been increasing, merchants experiencing no little difficulty in obtaining shaping space to oversea ports. The position has of late become worse, the merchants having been advised by the shipping companies that there was no space available for hemp during April With the high prices ruling of late practically all the mills in the Dominion are working at full pressure and the output of hemp during the past few months has been far above the average, and with the larger output and less shipping space the stocks in New Zealand have, consequently, greatly increased. There is still a good demand for hemp on the hondon market, and merchants are still prepared to buy if they can ship. The whole question resolves itself into one of tonnage. A meeting of buyers was held in Wellington this week, when it was decided to communicate the position to the Flaxmillers Association. The Association has convened a meeting of members, to be held in Palmerston to-morrow, when the whole question will be fully discussed and a decision arrived at as to the best steps to be taken to relieve the position. It is probable that a deputation will wait on the Prime Minister and point out to him the necessity of securing the interests of the hemp industry as well as those of wool and other non-perishable products. The shipping difficulty has had the effect of, easing prices somewhat, the quotations for delivery up to the end of June now being : good fair ,£36, high point fair ,£35, low point fair ,£34. First grade tow is quoted at about £ls 10s, second and third grade being ,£1 and £'l per ton less respectively.