THE HEMP MARKET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2565, 10 April 1923, Page 4

THE HEMP MARKET.

MARCH GRADING RETURNS. The grading returns for the month of March, 1923, issued by the Department of Agriculture for hemp, tow and stripper-slips, are :as follows. — Hemp.—The total number of bales graded was 6,744, as compared iwith 7,480 for the corresponding ;month of last year, a decrease of .736 bales.

For the twelve months ending 31st March, 1923, the number of bales graded was 57,958 as compared with 58,000 for the previous twelve months, a decrease of 42 bales. Tow.—During the month 1,644 ; bales of tow were graded as compared with 1,844 for the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of 200 bales.

For the twelve months ending on the 31st March, 1923, the number of bales graded was 14,974 bales, as compared with 12,985 for the previous twelve months, an increase of 1,989 bales. Stripper Slips.—During the month there were 8 bales of stripperslips graded as compared with 24 bales for the same month last year, a decrease of 16 bales.

The following shows the detailed particulars of the hemp graded: —

Eighty-one bales at Pioton were graded fine. Forty-seven bales at Wellington, six at Auckland and 34 at Foxton were rejected. The following shows the number of bales in each grade, the number for the corresponding period of last year being given in parenthesis:—Fine 81 (10), good fair 1,659 (1,837), high fair 3,798 (3,999), low fair 978 (1,367), common 141 (176), rejected 87 (86), condemned nil (5), a total of 6,744 bales, being a decrease of 736 bales. 564 bales reconditioned ex "Canadian Pioneer” at Auckland not included.

The number of bales graded at each port was as follows: —Wellington 2,099, Auckland 2,089, Foxton 1,774, Bluff 205, Romahapa 39, Blenheim 255, Picton 117, Wairoa 166.

The following is the detailed particulars of the tow' graded: — G. Ports Ist 2nd 3rd

Ten bales at Wellington and twen-ty-two bales at Auckland were condemned.

The following shows the number of bales in each grade, the number for the corresponding period of last year being given in parenthesis: Ist grade 695 (847), 2nd grade 794 (909), 3rd grade 123 (81), condemned 32 (7), a total of 1,644 bales, being a decrease of 200 bales. The number graded at each port was as follows: —Wellington 472, Auckland 661, Foxton 352, Bluff 83, Blenheim 46, Picton 64, Wairoa 24.

Stripper-Slips. —One bale at Auckland was graded Ist. grade and 7 at Auckland graded 2nd grade.

Good High Low G. Ports Fair Fair Fair Com Wellington 718 941 335 58 Auckland 67 1455 495 66 Foxton 533 1103 88 16 Bluff 46 131 28 — Romahapa 12 27 — — Blenheim 81 141 32 1 Picton 36 — — — Wairoa 166 — — —■

Wellington 222 218 24 Auckland 146 344 89 Foxton 250 06 6 Bluff — 83 — Blenheim — 42 4 Picton 53 11 — Wiairoa 24 — —