THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2125, 8 May 1920, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

APRIL GRADING RETURNS:' The following return has been issued by the Department of Agriculture, showing the quantities of hemp, tow, and stripper-slips graded at the ports, of the Dominion during the month - of-April, 1920:

Hemp. —The total number of bales graded was 7,(511, as compared with 7,395 for th(£ corresponding moiuh last year, an increase of 210 bales. For the 12 months ended 30th April, 1920, the number of bales graded was 91,984, as compared with 129,378 for the'previous 12 months, a decrease of 38,204 bales. Tow. —During the .month 1,420 bales were graded, as compared with 1,412 for the corresponding month last year,, an increase of bales. For the 12 months ended 30th April, 1920, the number of bales graded was 19,706, as compared with 19,538 for the previous 12 months, an increase of 22/ bales.

Stripper-Slips. Nil. Corresponding month last year, nil. .For (he twelve months ended 30th April, 1920, 132 bales, as compared with 599 for the previous 12 months, a decrease of 407 bales.

The following table shows the number of hales in the various grades at eaeh port in the Dominion; —

Forty-two '’’bales at Picton were graded line. One bale at Auckland, 12 at Foxton, and two at Wellington were rejected, and one bale at Wellington was condemned. The number-of bales graded at each port was- as follows:—Auckland 1,543, Foxton 2,409, Wellington 3,133, Picton 03, Blenheim 82, BlutV 381.

The number of hales in each grade ■throughout the Dominion was as under, the total for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses: —Fine 42 (nil), good fair 1,033 (1,4(58), high fair 5,027 (3,389), fair 1,139 (2,251), common 54 (259), rejected 15 (28), condemned 1 (nil), total 7,fi1l (7,395).

The following- arc the particulars of the tow graded:—

The lotnls in each "pule wore as muter, the corresponding mont.h of last year being given in parentheses: —First 384 (182), second 91(5 (t)8(i), third 120' (228). Totals, 1,429 (1,412).

Pori Good Fair. High Fair: Fair. Cm. Auckland 195 783 .534 30 Foxton 245 1088 457 7 Wellington 500 2178 435 17 Pieton 21 — — — Blenheim • 53 22 7 — Bluff 10 530 (i —

1st 2nd. 3rd. Tl. Auckland — 81 G8 149 Box! on IS 395 38 481 Wellington 329 390 14 733 Blenheim ■ 7 7 — 14 Bluff .. — 43 — . 13