New Zealand Hemp.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 449, 26 February 1890, Page 3

New Zealand Hemp.

C. Spurling’s New Zealand Hemp Market Report. London, November 30. Since my last advices of Ist inst. our market, until within the last week, has shown but little change in the values either of New Zealand hemp or tow during the past month, and prices have been fairly supported. An exception, however, was made at the sales of last Wednesday (25th instant), when, with a flat market and more eager sellers, prices were forced down, common and ordinary at 10s, medium to good at 15s to 30s, and good at 20a to 30s per ton decline.

Having regard to the enhanced and present values of Manila and Mauritius hemps since the date of my last circular, no good or satisfactory reason can be assigned for the present decline in New Zealand.beyond the unreasonable pressure of some holders to quit stocks. The arrivals since Ist inst. have certainly been heavy, comprising the Glamis, Hudson, Rothsay Bay, Rimutaka, Coptic, and Waimate, with a total of 8,490 bales hemp, and 184 bales tow. Supplies at public sales since Ist instant have been 4,000 bales hemp, 200 bales tow, a large part of which, at and since sales, have been placed. Anxious to see the trade in New Zealand hemp develop upon a thoroughly sound and healthy basis, the writer trusts he may be excused in specially and urgently directing the attention of bankers, mer-chants,-and shippers to the serious check likely to accrue to this trade unless the highly objectionable practice now in vogue of dumping New Zealand hemp be discontinued. The dumping (or extra pres sure by ship owners or shippers) of New Zealand hemp, is a matter of serious moment. Unlike wool—with its elastic nature—flax once dumped becomes hard and matted, and the system adopted in the former article, without hurt, is totally unsuitable, and to some extent prejudicial to the value of hemp. Many cases have lately arisen in which bales dumped (or compressed) by ship owners or their agents have been so seriously affected that the binders or bands of the hemp—-as delivered originally at the shipping port have been so loosened that the bill of lading marks and identity have not only been lost or destroyed, bub a considerable expense also incurred to re-tighten the bales. A system so at variance with the terms of the* bill of lading is vicious in so many ways, that the writer is sure no justification of so bad a system can be recognised or tolerated without the consent of the shippers, in which case the authority or right of dumping should be clearly set out and stated in the bill of lading. A further greater grievance to shippers is yet to be found in the fact that parcels of various marks are dumped promiscuously together, and without any regard to the specific obligations and covenants under the usual bill Of lading clause “ to deliver the bales in the like good order.” Each and every bill of lading as regards mark should be kept intact, whereas at present—without regard to consequences—the marks of various consignees are mixed together, at the will and caprice of the dumpers, and apparently without any thought of after consequences. The writer has just received two separate certificates from the Dock Company’s landing officers here, complaining loudly of the difficulty occasioned by the system now referred to.

For tow and toppets there has been a rather better market. Much, however, in the way of cleaning must be done in the former to find a market here; whilst the latter shows symptoms of improvement, and is gradually rising in value. Prices Current. Fino : Wellington, £32 to £34 ; Auckland, £32 to £34. Good : Wellington, £3O 10s to £3l 10s ; Auckland, £3l to £33. Middling to fair : Wellington, £2B to £29 ; Auckland, £2B to £3O. Common to middling : Wellington, £26 to £2B ; Auckland, £27 to £2B. Low and ordinary : Wellington (nominal), £24 10s to £26 10s ; Auckland (nominal), £25 at £27. [As will be seen there are no less than five grades of phormium fibre classified in the the above table of prices quoted by Mr Spurling, while there is also a considerable variation between the market value of Auckland and Wellington flax, the former realising the highest values. This shows that the colony is losing largely as a wholo from careless preparation of the raw material, combined with defective methods of packing in many cases. A good authority, Mr Malfrov, states that both Parisian and American importers complain loudly of the state in which much of our New Zealand hemp is shipped. At present, it is said, the brands are not to be depended upon. Owing to carelessness in preparation for shipment the bales often heat and when opened are found to be completely rotten and’valueless. Mr Malfroy says that it is the South Island flax which excites most of these complaints. To show the great importance to the development of the trado of taking special pains to produce the best article possible, we may point to the fact that one importer alone oflered to take three shiploads of New Zealand hemp per annum, if he could obtain a guarantee of its being delivered in sound condition.— Ed. N.Z.F.]