THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 69, 23 March 1911, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

HEMP AND TOW GRADINGS

Tho total number of bales of hemp graded by the Department of Agriculture during January was 9899 bales, as against 12,296 for the corresponding month of the previous year, a decrease of 2397 bales. For the twelve months ending January 31 the number of bales graded was 124,417, as against 93,035 for the previous twelve months, an increase of 31,382 bales. During January 3256 bales of tow were dealt with, as against 4184 bales for the previous month, a decrease of 928 bales.

Most of the hemp' (over two-thirds) came from the Wellington province— 3311 bales from Foxton and 3538 bales from Wellington. Of the whole Dominion's output, 63.39 per cent, was good fair, 4.21 per cent, of fine, 30.75 per cent, fair, and 1.35 per cent, common. The percentage rejected was 0.3. In bales the qualities were represented as follows:—Fine, 417; good fair, 6275; fair, 3044; and common, 100. There was none of superior grade, and the number of bales rejected was 30.

Th© quantities credited to the various ports were—Auckland, 1701 bales: Napier, 238: Foxton, 3311; Wellia Kton, 3538; Blenheim, 127; Picton, 175-

Lyttelton, 75: Dunedin, 278; and Bluff, 447. Foxton's total quantity consisted of 85 bales fui^ 2979 good- lair, 218 fair, 8 common, and 21 rejected. Welling* - ton's figures were: 97 fine, 1891 gooa fair, 150$ fair, 33 common, and 9 re* jected. 11 ,/, „ ■ Of the1127' bales graded at Blen- " heim, 114 were classed fine, and tha remainder good fair. ; The 3256 bales of tow which were handled were graded at the ports in the following quantities:—Auckland, 672 bales. Napier, 60; Foxton, 749; Wellington, 1179; Blenheim, 86; Pic- ; ton, 175; Lyttelton, 95; Dunedin, 22; and Bluff, 218. Foxton's total was ; made up of 59 bales first grade, 554 ■ second' grade, and 136 third grade. < Wjellington's total consisted of 362: bales first grade, 664 second, 132 third, j arid 21 condemned. For the whole j Dominion,, 159 bales were condemned. The, balance consisted of 745 bales first grade, 1647 second, and' 705 third. About fifteen per cent, of the tow graded at Auckland was condemned.