TRADE IN HEMP.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 174, 21 July 1909, Page 6

TRADE IN HEMP.

POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING KILLED.

PRESENT CONDITION

Recently hopes of improvement in the hemp market were aroused on receipt of orders for America, and reports of large transactions in Manila hemp in that market. The animation has, however; since subsided.; - Commenting on the position, the TradeReview says:—"Some contracts have been concluded in Wellington and other New Zealand centres, and the market is again very quiet. The out-* put of Manila is being maintained at" a rate 'in excess even of the very heavy production of lats year,' seeming to shut out any hope of increase in the demand for New Zealand fibre, .unless, either the quality were a good deal improved or the: price substantially lowered. Some hopes are entertained, of the production of a larger supply of ' fine. grade, but the labor conditions preclude all chance of reducing the cost; There seems to be ey.en a possibility of the trade being killed, as Socialist leaders among the laboring classes arji teaching that no! bread is 'better than half a .loaf, and although a considerable ' number of men are but of -work the acceptance of anything less than the standard wage is 'denounced.. '" "Good fair has been sold at £20 to ! £21; and fair at ; £19 t0,£19 10s,. Spot supply is e:fctremelyl'light,., many mills being, closed for the winter, and th« j few tfeat are; open ai'e only. finishing ' up the stripped leaf on hand. Mills Mil re-bpen _ about . the -middle .of •August, jU'nless.'liih'dered' by weather conditions., ~■!.•; ..';•., '■"' ,The 'gracf ings' for the-' month.*, of "June'■compare, as follows.' with June,' 1908:—Superior, ;qjiil "(91)";- fine/ 199 (10.);': good'- fair," 2406 "(1-215) ; <f-air, 2308 '(2182) •"' cdjiimon^: 211 (310);-ire-, .jeeted, 3 (13);-condemned, 16 (10); total, 5143' bates (383,1k .Auckland. 650 (467); Napier, M (nil); Wellingtltfn 'and ;Fo^ton v 3oB; jL .(2656); Blen- j heim'-' and; Pict;on,V-15r! (nil) ; Lytteltionv nil (163) •'' Duiied'in,;. 388 (315); Bluff, 334; (236). $fo\.l grade, 118 bales: 'No. 2, 679.•/ N0,3, .344;.. condemned, 22■,bal?s < ;V- ■■■■■<, '.■.■

'..An., Oxfordshire yiearcomplains of a,scarcity^p| chqir..;bfiiys because.>lads: can 'earn seven or eight shaflinjgs. iv day on Sunday as golf caddies.