THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2325, 6 September 1921, Page 1

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

AUGUST GRADING RETURNS

The following return of the hemp, tow and stripper slips graded during the month of August has been issued by the Department of Agriculture :

Hemp.—The total number of bales graded was 2,793, as 5,836 for the corresponding period of last year, a decrease of 3,043 bales. For the 12 months ended 31st August, 1921, the number of bales graded was 64,733, as compared with 97,502 for the previous twelve months, a decrease of 32,859 bales.

Tow.—The total number of bales graded was 579, as compared with 1,497 for the same month of last year, a decrease of 918 bales. For the 12 months ended 31st August, 1921, the number of bales graded was 14,307, as compared with 21,528 for the previous 12 months, a decrease of 7,221 bales. St ripper-slips.—Fifty-four bales graded, as compared with 231 for the same month of last year. For the twelve months ended 31st August, 1921, the number of bales graded was 1,985, as compared with 504 for the previous 12 months, an increase of 1,481 bales. The detailed' particulars of the grading of hemp at each port are as follows: —

Good High Low ComPorts. Fair. Fair. Fair. mon. Auckland 127 206 22 Wellington 60 469 336 298 Foxton 115 469 123 13 Blenheim 55 Picton 24 Wairoa 56 104 Bluff 95 64 9 108 bales at Picton were graded line. Thirty-eight bales at Wellington, 11 bales at Foxton, and one bale at Blenheim were rejected. No bales were condemned. The following shows the number of bales graded in each grade, the number for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses:—Fine 108 (nil), good fair 532 (1,158), high fair 1,302 (2,935), fair 490 (1,505), common 311 (183), rejected 50 (55), condemned nil (nil), a total of 2,793 bales, a decrease of 3,043 bales. The following shows the number of bales graded at each port:— Auckland 355, Wellington 1,201, Foxton 731, Blenheim 56, Picton 132, Wairoa 160, Bluff 158. The following are the details of the tow graded:—

One bale at Auckland, and five at Wellington were condemned. The number of bales in each grade was as under, the figures for the corresponding month of last year being given in parentheses: —Ist grade 240 (565), 2nd grade 315 (871), 3rd grade 18 (61), condemned 6 (nil), a total of 579 bales, a decrease of 1,497 bales. Stripper Slips.—Wellington: Ist grade 36, 2nd grade 18, condemned nil; total, 54 bales; decrease, 177 bales.

Port. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Tl. Auckland 17 30 .1 58 Wellington 07 110 2 223 Foxton 40 48 — 07 Blenheim — — 7 7 Picton 40 — — 40 Lyttelton — 91 — 01 Wairoa 28 0 — 30 Bluff — 16 8 24