THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1063, 28 February 1911, Page 8

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

r'AN UNCERTAIN MARKET.

, The flax market is'very uncertaini and is fluctuating a (ireat deal. "Ono day," snys a Wellington merchant, "a decline is prophesied, and tbo next day a riso takes place." However, tho market seems steadier than it, was a fortnight ago. '■. ;• ■.. '•■•■-. . - ■■"The'fire troubles have been settled by ,tho rain.;-It 'is obvious mow'that the Wftbout tho 'fires y&i Mn seA-etal .instances'overdone. Sonio of tho burns were among rubbish and- did not harm valuable ' Hnx areas. Tho firo on Jtr. Akers's property at Linton was sorioue. U traversed; 200 acres, much of which contained good flax. Not much damago was done at Makcrua. '. It is hel(J that tho flax fires aro attributable to sparks from'railway ensines, Jandthat :if i tho i grass!'was not: allowed tpgrow high near'the'fences dividing tho permanent ■ way from ■ thn flax paddocks there would no practically, no danger of' fire. ,The'best proventivo is to keep tho grass caton down. Thero /is a lot of grass growing among flax, and once a fire is started it takes some stamping out, if there isanywin'd.' The recent .faros frould haVobeeh m'ucli moro-scrious had. thofe been nior&'wind. , ''' l'rices stated in Wolfington yesterdnv were XlO ss. for good fair, and £15 10s for fair. The High Commissioner's cable states'that the London prices aro £13 ss. • for good fnir.-and JBIB iSs.tfor-fair grade.'