Our Industries. PHORMIUM TENAX (New Zealand Hemp).

Progress, Volume I, Issue 6, 2 April 1906, Page 144

Our Industries. PHORMIUM TENAX (New Zealand Hemp).

Swift once said : " Whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass grow upon the spot where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together." Few questions are of greater importance to the well-being of any country than the development of its natural resources. In New Zealand we have a plant indigenous to the soil growing in the valleys, swamps, and on the hill-tops throughout the length and breadth of this fair land, in great luxuriance, without the slightest attempt at cultivation. Our mineral wealth in gold and coal, our forests of kauri, birch and totara, rimu, white pine and other timbers, all assist to make our national greatness ; but in our New Zealand hemp we have an ever-increasing source of wealth, which, properly conserved and cultivated, would represent our richest inheritance. Our forests are giving way to the- woodman's axe ; our kauri gum is slowly but surely diminishing, and can never be replaced ; whereas our native plant known to commerce as New Zealand hemp is always growing, and can by cultivation and planting be largely increased in production. Sir James Hector in his very excellent and instructive work on Phormium Tenax (which should be in the possession of every miller) gives no less than fifty-five different names as applied by the Maoris to the plant ; but he adds that it is doubtful if more than twenty marked varieties can be distinguished. It grows in bunches or groups of plants or shoots, each shoot has about five leaves. On the average, ten of these shoots make a bunch, or in all fifty leaves, which vary according to the soil and proximity to running or stagnant water, from sft. to 10ft. in length, and each consists of a double-bladed leaf, which when closed is from 2m. to 4m. wide, tapering off from \vs\. thick at the butt, to the substance of strong paper at the top of the leaf. The Maoris prepared and exported this fibre as far back as 1809, and it is on record that between the years 1828 and 1832, although New Zealand was only then visited by whalers and a few traders, upwards of worth was sold m Sydney market. At that time native hand-dressed fibre fetched

a very high price m the English market. It is instructive to note at this point that the Maoris were always careful m the selection of leaves, taking only those in which the fibre was properly ripened, instead of cutting over the whole plant indiscriminately and at all seasons as is the present general

practice of Europeans supplying the mills. In recent years, however, several land owners have refused permission to cut the green blade during the colder months, so as to ensure a more uniform and regular growth, which had hitherto been affected by the frosts when the cutting continued throughout the winter. It is gratifying to know that the Agricultural Department has been, and is at present, experimenting with considerable success with a

view of being able to advise land owners as to the best varieties of Phormzum Tenax to plant on their estates. It was not, however, till 1861 that machinedressed fibre was demanded, owing to the failure of Manila, which afterwards led to an increase in value for our Phormium fibre from to per ton, with 'a further rise to £76 per ton during the Civil War in America. These prices stimulated many pioneers to embark on the preparation of the fibre for export to England. Many settlers who were tempted to invest their capital in the establishment of hemp mills throughout the colony found the competition of Manila, Sisal and other fibres often left them with heavy financial losses, and, as a consequence, the permanent establishment of the industry was greatly retarded. From time to time, extending over a period of twenty-five years, Select Committees of the House of Representatives were set up by every succeeding Government to collect evidence and report upon the best plan to be adopted for the profitable development of the industry. In 1890 a Select Committee was appointed by the Atkinson Government, which invited merchants, engineers and millers to give evidence. The writer attended, and pressed upon the Committee the great necessity of adopting a compulsory grading system, and the importance of offering bonus for

the best system, mechanical or chemical, that would improve the quality of our fibre, reduce the cost of production and utilise the tow, then looked upon as a useless and waste product. On the 26th August, 1890, the Committee brought down their report, embodying, inter alia, the recommendations which I submitted for their consideration, but no definite business measures were adopted. The market prices continued to fall with a corresponding heavy reduction m the volume of export which the following figures testify :—: —

It will thus be seen that our exports had fallen from 21,158 tons m 1890, valued at 1,789, to 1,806 tons in 1895, valued at /21,04 c Soon after this, a small loyal band of the few remaining millers and traders at Foxton commenced an agitation for further investigation, and after repeated petitions to Parliament the present Government consented to appoint a qualified commercial Commissioner, providing the Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Associations would support the movement. The millers did me the honour of inviting me to undertake the responsible duty of organisation. Having put my hand to the plough I was determined not to look back, and I at once consented to address various meetings throughout New Zealand to advocate the cause of the millers. The task was by no means an easy one, for there were plenty to throw cold water on the movement, and for a time it seemed as though I was leading a forlorn hope, with little chance of victory. The battle began m Foxton, and the phenomenal success of that public meeting encouraged me to continue the campaign, which eventually secured supporters

everywhere. Neither the petitioners nor myself expected such unanimous support which was supplemented in a practical way by substantial subscriptions to the Hemp Miller' s Fund. The Industrial Association of Chnstchurch was the first to respond, and this was soon followed by the Wellington Industrial Association, while many of the Chambers of Commerce, Agricultural Societies and other bodies throughout New Zealand supported the movement. Many months were occupied in this work, and a further petition was sent to the Government, who agreed to the appointment of a Trade Commissioner, with power to investigate and report upon the fibre markets of the world — an order of considerable magnitude. I was selected by the present Government, and on the sth day of June, 1897, was appointed with a roving commission which occupied 18 months m travelling Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, America, Canada and British Columbia. During my residence m London I was greatly assisted by the Hon. William Pember Reeves, our present High Commissioner, to whom I sent my preliminary reports upon the hemp and kauri gum industries, which were finally completed upon my return to New Zealand in November, 1898. All my investigations only confirmed my previously expressed opinion that with a regular exploitation of new markets and a proper system of Government grading by competent experts, we would soon establish a name and reputation for our fibre, which would secure the confidence of oversea buyers and largely increase our export trade, while at the same time it would assist the careful and correct the careless miller. My report was published by the Government and presented to Parliament, since which many thousands of copies have been distributed all over the world. The Seddon Government, always ready and willing to help the producers, recognised the importance of the industry, and realised the benefit to be derived by a compulsory grading system. In terms of my recommendation supported as it was by the largest fibre brokers and ropemakers m England, America and Canada, the Government introduced a Grading Bill, which was loyally supported by Messrs. John Stevens, the late H. Field, and other Members of Parliament, and it became law. Ever since this Act was placed on the .Statute Book, the hemp industry has continued to expand. The uniform quality produced has led to increased demand at much higher prices. Proof of this is to be found in the following figures • —

If any evidence were wanting to prove the enormous advantages of our grading system and of the great benefits derived by the agitation originally

started by a few enthusiasts in the hemp trade, no stronger testimony could be produced than the figures above. quoted. In the face of such success the Government should be encouraged to further action, for there yet remains a great deal to be done, not only in the exploitation of new markets (and there are many waiting to be captured) but also m the planting and cultivation of our waste lands with the best varieties of Phormwm Tenax, which, in my opinion, would repay the colony a hundred fold. We should be able to annually export 100,000 tons of " fair " and " good fair " average hemp representing an f.o.b. value of at least which would give employment to thousands of men

immediately engaged in its manufacture, while it would also give an impetus to all our Traders, and add materially to the revenue of our railways, harbour boards and shipping companies.

The death of Samuel Cunliffe-Lister, Lord Masham, was recorded recently. Lister was patentee of many inventions, including a compressed-air brake for railways and a wool-combing machine ; but in England his invention of the modern species of plush was regarded as his greatest achievement. For his inventions he was rewarded by being raised to the peerage.

tear. 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 yuan tit Tons. 4.850 10,371 15.906 10,171 20,852 22,652 26,936 29,740 tyValue. £74.556 184,411 332,182 195,728 534.031 595.684 710,281 728,585

ear. 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 i 895 yuantit Tons. 21,158 15,809 12,793 12,578 4,677 1,806 ty Value. 281,514 214,542 219.375 66,256 21,040