THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

SERIOUS OUTLOOK. (B? TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORBESPONDENT.) Palmerston North, March 12. The "Standard" has been informed on good authority that owing to the low prices and unsatisfactory conditions generally with regard to. the hemp industry, three strippers out of six now working at tho Miranui mills will be closed down next week, while Messrs. A and L. Seifert's mill at Piaka will also be closed down. Threo other mills iu the district are closing down at tho same time. This will meau that a fairly largo body of men will be thrown out of work. There are about '25 men employed at each mill or stripper, which will mean that altogether 175 men will be numbered among the unemployed next week. Taking tho wages of theso men on an average of, say, £3 per week, their wages each week would total £525, or £2200 per month. The position is serious, not only on account of tho men being thrown out of employment for the time being, but because, if matters continue as they are, the whole industry is likely to be paralysed. In conversation with various flaxmillers, it has been gathered that quite a number of letters have been reiceved from merchants at Home stating that if we cannot keep up our supply in tho Home market cordage manufacturers who have got special machinery to deal with the New Zealand hemp will get rid of this and replace it with machinery specially adapted for working the sisal and Manila hemp. If this is done, tho demand for New Zealand hemp is likely to fall right off, and millers here, should conditions improve, will have to reintroduce their hemp on the London market at competitive prices, or slightly below those ruling for other fibres, in order to get a footing, whereas if tho supply is kept up prices for, New Zealand hemp will rise in sympathy with other fibres.