THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1545, 2 May 1916, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

THE position that has arisen in connect ion with the shortage of overseas shipping space and the effect it has had on the hemp industry in unchanged, hut. although a large number of mills have either closed down or are making preparations to close down within the next, week or so (he situation is not as serious as it lirst appeared f’o he. It is the usual practice for the majority of the mills in this district to close down some time between the end of .March and August; the period for which operations cease ranging from six weeks to, three months. The mills drawing their supplies from the Riverdale Estate, and also the. majority of those in the Shan-non-Tokomaru district make a practice of closing from the end of .March, some re-commencing operations during June and early in July, and others somewhat earlier. The plants milling leaf from the Moutoa Estate are generally idle during June and July. Drum this it will he seen that it is nothing extraordinary for milling operations to cease fox' a time, and provided the present stoppage is not prolonged, the effect on (he prosperity of the district will not Ijc very marked, lit past years

:i number of millers Imve continued through (lie winter, mid we understand (hat this year some have made arrangements to do so, although the number that will work right through will tie smaller on this oeeasiou than in former years.