THE HEMP INDUSTRY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2261, 9 April 1921, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY

MARCH GRADING RETURNS.

The following return of the hemp, tow and stripper slips graded during the month of March has been issued by the Department of Agriculture: Hemp. —The total number of bales graded was 7,537, as compared with 11,130 for th'e corresponding period of last year, a decrease .of 3,593 bales. For the 12 months ended 31st March, 1921, the number of bales graded was 82,836, as compared with 90,868 for the previous 12 months, a decrease of 8,032 bales.

Tow. —During the month 1,320 bales were graded, as compared with 2,490 for the same month of last year, a decrease of 1,170 bales. For, the 12 months ended 31st March, 1921, the number of bales graded was 17,619, as compared with 19,658 for the previous 12 months, a decrease of 2,039 bales. Stripper-Slips. —485 bales were graded, as compared with 120, for the same month of last year, an increase of 365 bales. For the 12 /nontbs ended 31st March, 1921, the number of bales graded was 2,032, as compared with 132 for the previous 12 months, an increase of 1,900 bales. The detailed particulars of the grading of hemp at each port are as follows: —

Twelve bales at Auckland and 53 bales at Picton were graded fine; 8 at Auckland, 75 at Foxton, and one at Wellington were rejected. The following shows the number of bales in each grade, the figures for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses: — Fine 65 (119), good fair 1,877 (1,828), high fair 4,379 (6,165), fair 1,086 (2,604), common 46 (236), rejected 84 (178). condemned nil (nil).

The number of bales graded at each port was as follows: —Auckland 1,676, Foxton 1,294, Wellington 3,539, Wairoa 332, Picton 65, Blenheim 62, Dunedin 95, Bluff 474. The following are the details of the tow graded: —

No tow was condemned. The number of bales in each grade was as under, the figures for I lie corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses: — First 547 (844), second 737 (1,489), third 36 (156), condemned nil (1).

Good High CoinPort. Fair. Fair. Fair. mon. Auckland 38li 805 350 25 Foxton 37 1035 147 — Wellington GOT 2208 582 21 Wairoa, 332 — — — Pic ton 12 — — — Blenheim 02 — — — Dunedin 60 26 — — Bluff 312 155 7 —

Ports 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Tl. Auckland 28 130 18 185 l''oxkm 61 208 8 277 Wellington 344 205 J.0 550 Wairon 50 — __ •50 Picloji 27 — — 27 Blenheim 3 / — _ 37 Dunedin — 12 — 12 Bluff — 173 — 173