THE HEMP MARKET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2577, 8 May 1923, Page 4

THE HEMP MARKET.

APRIL GRADING RETURNS. The grading returns for hemp, tow and stripper-slips, graded in the Dominion during the month of April, has been issued by the Department of Agriculture as follows: Hemp.—The total number of bales graded was 5,539 as compared with 5,334 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 205 bales. For the twelve months ending 30th April, 1923, the number of bales graded was 58,163, as compared with 58,594 bales for the px-evious twelve months, a decrease of 431 bales. Tow. —During the month 1,566 bales of tow were graded as compared with 1,148 for the corresponding month of last year, an increase of 408 bales. For the twelve months . ending 30th April, 1923, the number of bales graded was 15,382, as compared with 12,857 for the pi-evious twelve months, an increase of 2,525 bales.

Stripper-Slips.—During the month there were 29 bales of stripper slips graded as compared with nil for the same month last year, an increase of 29 bales.

The followng is the detailed particulars of the hemp graded.—

Thirty-eight, bales at Picton were ' graded fine and 69 bales at Wellington, three at Auckland and four at Foxton were rejected. The following shows the number of bales in each grade, the number for the corresponding period of las! year being given in parenthesis: ’ -Fine 38 (4), good fair 1,3.31 (940) high fair 2,533 (2,985), low fair rejected 76 (65), a total of 5,539 bales, being an increase of 205 bales. The number of bales graded at each port was as follows:—Wellington 1,959, Auckland 1,515, Foxton 1,195, Bluff 189, Dunedin 14, Blenheim 237, Picton 70, Wairoa 360. The following is the detailed particulars of the tow graded.—

Thirteen bales at Wellington and 27 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 473 (387), 2nd grade 790 (686), 3rd grade 247 (53), condemned 40 (22), h total of 1,556 bales, being an increase of 408 bales. The number of bales graded at each port was as follows :—Wellington 413, Auckland 407, Foxton 274, Bluff 89, Blenheim 28, Picton 33, Waikuku 262, Wairoa 50. On’e hundred and twenty-three bales of hemp and tow reconditioned ex “Canadian Pioneer” at Auckland not included 1 in the above. Stripper Slips.—At Auckland eleven bales were graded Ist grade, 13 bales 2nd grade and five bales were condemned, making a total of 29 bales.

Good High Low G. Ports FaiiFair Com. Wellington 460 827 572 31 A nek)a ml 57 645 603 117 Foxton 273 826 84 8 Bluff 25 153 10 1 Dunedin 14 — — — Blenheim 110 102 16 9 Picton 32 — — — Wairoa 360 — —

6. Ports 1st 2nd? 1 3rd. Wellington 170 212 18 Auckland 68 187 125 Foxton 132 142 — Bluff — 80 — Blenheim 20 _ — 8 Pic toil 33 — — Waikubu — •' 166 96 Wairoa 50 — —