THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 1, 15 January 1913, Page 68

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

W. H. Ferris.

Although a considerable increase has taken place in the amount of phormium milled throughout the Dominion, the average quality is unsatisfactory. This is not entirely due to bad milling, but is more the result, particularly in the Manawatu, of the high percentage of diseased leaf in the swamps. This quite prevents the miller, even where every care is taken in the milling process, turning out anything above a high-point fair grade. A heavy loss is thus occasioned to some millers not only by reason of their having to .be content with a lower grade, but owing to the fact that they are thus unable to fulfil good-fair contracts entered into when market values were at --their maximum. Generally there is little to complain abput in regard to the way the hemp is being milled, except in the case of mills which have been recommissioned this season in the Auckland District. Herein is to be seen the drawback to high market values. It will pay millers with present prices to turn out a fair-grade article, whereas with a market like that of last season the milling of good-fair alone was profitable. Westland and Marlborough millers are turning out an excellentquality hemp. They have a good healthy leaf to work with, and are milling it to advantage. High-pointed good-fair and fine 'is beingturned out by the majority of millers. Southland millers have also a good-conditioned leaf to work with, but are aiming at high-pointed fair to meet contracts. The Southland leaf is of a short, stiff nature, the fibre being strong but on the short side, and this want of length is the chief weakness in the fibre coming forward for shipment from that quarter. Altogether, sixty mills are in operation in Otago this year, against about fifteen which operated last season. The big increase apparent in the output., of hemp from the different districts of the Dominion does not represent the maximum production of this season, as a considerable development in milling operations is expected to take place this month, a number of new mills being now ready to commence operations. Tow is coming to hand in only a fair condition. Although there is a good demand for it at a very payable price, many millers are not taking the care in the preparation of this by-product they should while in other cases the poorer quality coming forward is due

to the inferior leaf with which millers, particularly in the Manawatu, have to work. . . ‘