HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2619, 14 August 1923, Page 3

HEMP INDUSTRY.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. AN INTERESTING REVIEW. In (lie report of the Department of• Agriculture, presented to Parliament last evening, the Hon. W. Nosworthy refers to the hemp industry in the following terms: “The hemp industry has been passing through a period of depression, largely influenced by disease in the pliormium plant. The millers are dealing with the matter of improvement in a very practical way, and the department is also aiding in research work. The marked shrinkage in the production of fibre recorded for the last few years appears, however, to have been arrested, and renewed developments of the industry may ho anticipated.” The department officers’ report is as follow: “The production of hemp during the year was about on a. par with that of 1921-22, while tow showed a considerable increase since October last. There lias been a general improvement in the quality of hemp forwarded for grading during the last few years. The quality of tow generally has been good, it being in most cases free from dust, and rubbish, while prices have also been satisfactory,, this no doubt being partly due to the better quality produced. Judging by the negilible quantity of stripper slips forwarded for grading during the year, there was practically no demand for this by-product. During the year 57,958 hales of hemp passed through the grading stores, a decrease of 42 bales as compared with the previous twelve months. Tow graded amounted to 1-1,974 hales—-an increase of 2.143 hales, and stripper slips fo 129 bales —a decrease of 525 bales. The gradings of hemp showed (he following percentages for (lie various grades: Fine, 0.51; good fair 24.32; high fair, 56.18; fair 15.05; common, 2.55; rejected 1.35; condemned 0.01. Of the tow graded, 44.63 per cent, scored first grade, 47.52 per cent, second grade, 6.47 per cent third grade, and 1.36 per cent, was condemned. Of the stripiter slips 44.34 per cent, scored first grade, and 55.66 per cent, second grade. Wellington shows a decrease of 5,192 hales of hemp graded, this being due, firstly, to the ravages of the yellow leaf disease, and, secondly, lo the number of floods in the Manawatn district during the early part of the sear-on, which delayed milling operations. Foxton shows an increase of 4,304 bales. At Auckland there was an increase of 2.529 hales and (lie outlook for the output generally in the Auckland district is very promising. Blenheim shows an increase of 213 hales. At Pieton, there was a, decrease of 531 hales. Dunedin and Bluff show a decrease of 1,007 bales, but the general quality of hemp produced has been good, “A charge for grading hemp and tow a I the rate of one penny per hundredweight or part (hereof was brought into force as from August 1. last. Large areas of pliormium in (he Kanawatu district have been destroyed or seriously deteriorated by the ravages of yellow leaf disease. Some satisfactory results have been obtained from extensive experiments carried out at Messrs A. and L. Seifert’s Miranui Mill, with a view to overcoming the disease and discovering immune varieties of phormium. Improved methods of cutting the green leaf arc also being tested, and the results as far as the yield is concerned, are very promising. During the year, Air W. Petrie was appointed to the position of chief hemp grader.”