THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 101, 27 April 1912, Page 9

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT A^~L T AL REPORT. The annual report of the hemp industry for the year ending 31st, March, 1912,' show thai 6991 bales hemp and 1399 bales of tow were graded. This discloses a serious falling off in quantity, as compared -with the previous twelve: months, ■rc4iie!h is almost entirely due to the low prices ruling, making profitable miHirrg almost impossible. Suitable and efficient labour has also been scarce, to work at good wages in the city being plentiful. Referring to tihe various grades, the report states: ■Superior.—Nil, no quotations offering. Fine. —XU. Prices offering are not sufficiently tempting to induce miners to undertake the extra cost in producing this fibre. ...

Good, Fair. —1056 bales, a decrease ol 5404 bales, as compared with previous twelve months. The small margin in price ruling during the greater part of the year between "good-fair"' and "fair" wa= not, sum-dent to induce many of the milters to contract for this grade. They contend that to select flax into suitable lengths, and reject the inferior a? diseased leaves, more than absorbs the difference in price. Fair. —.3298 bales, a decrease of 5728 bales. Much of this fibre might have been in the higher grade, but for poor and insufficient washing on the one hand, or careless and indifferent scutching on the other.

Common.—S bales came to hand, •being 1713 bale.* le-3 than last year. Most of this fibre, was intended for "fair," but being too stained and rusty or strawy, the result of poor stripping, bad washing, and scutching it failed to reach the higher standard. Rejected.66 bales, seven bales less than previous year. ' ondemned.—s3 bale?. 171 less than !a~f year. The grader adds: ''If New Zealand hemp is in come into greater fa-vonr, a.nd become more firmly established in the Home markets than it is at"present, it. is absolutely necessary that the millers should endeavour to produce a more uniform he.mp, -both in quality and length than is put on the market at present. Much of the leaf is cat quite too low." Sorting the leaf into two or throe lengths, and rejecting the dry and diseased ones before stripping is a most important process, especially if a high grade i? to be arrived at. besides it means easier scutching- and less tow. Stripping, -with -one or two exceptions, is not so good as it should be. On tio whole it is inclined tn-b<* too bruised and, in some instances, broken, resulting in increased tow and weakened fibre.

Washimr is also most important. .i« stained, rusty. baJly -washed fibre will never command a marker.

Scuicnrng is one of the most important departments frequently nejrlected. jMiicli of the "fair" -would reach the higher gradf if the tails and tips of shorter lengths received a little more attention. Colour may. and does mean much, but it cannot possibly take the plaoe of scutching- in the estimation of the Home manufacturers who require a. good, strong , clean, bright, open fibre, free from straw and leaf.

About 1399 bales of tow have bepn graded, 6811 less than last year. It is to be repretted that tow rererres so littls attention at the hands of some, millers, feeing it has now become an important factor in calculating a flax proposition. Slraking and baling iE not carried out as it should be.