Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1908. THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8538, 19 March 1908, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1908. THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

The Wellington Post makes a valuable suggestion in connection with the collapse that, has overtaken the hemp market. Recognising that it is the competition of the Manila fibre that has largely brought about the present situation, our contemporary thinks that one of the Now Zealand hemp experts should be sent to the Philippines to see exactly what are the developments that have taken place there. In reviewing the position the: Post mentions that the industry reached its hi«:uest point of prosperity in January and February of last year, when best New Zealand hemp brought ■ £40 a ton in London. In the early part of the present year thequotation had fallen to £28, at the end of February it touched £26, and now good fair grade, on spot, is down to £23 os in London; The cause of this steady fall is attributed to the competition of Manila, the output in the Philippines having, it is stated, enormously increased under American enterprise. This, it might be mentioned, was one of the possibilities foreseen by Mr M. Cohen when he investigated the Manila industry. Improved methods of treatment, he said, would greatly increase production and improve the quality of the Philippine fibre. It can now be seen, how dangerous to the New Zealand industry the exceptionally high; prices have been, for they have doubtless stimulated American invention to devise machinery for treating Manila fibre, and encouraged., the planting of large areas in Central and South America witli sisal and other fibres. Moreover, the American manufacturer has the benefit of a 30s per ton drawback on all Manila exported to the United States. All these causes have been working to produce the present depression, which may, lead to a breaking of the connection that has been built up for the fibre. This cannot be lightly sacrificed, and the Post thinks that united action should be taken by millers, employers, receivers of royalties, and the shipping companies.

With regard to the last, they have recognised: the difficulties with which the industry is beset, and are prepared to do their share by reducing freight, but in the face of a substantial fall anything the shipping companies do wquld be unavailing if not reinforced by a proportionate sacrifice by the other participants in the industry. In view of the knowledge. Mr Cohen possesses Jrespecting the Manila industry, much good might result if the Government could induce him to again visit the Philippines on behalf of the Dominion and make exhaustive enquiries into the condition of the industry in that country. Mr Cohen is, largely interested in the fibre industry, and a report from him on the Manila trade would be invaluable to manufacturers in the Dominion.