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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 23

Hemp, Hope, Twine

Hemp, Hope, Twine.

The indigenous plant, Phormhm tenax, naturally attracted attention to these manufactures. The beautiful flax mats prepared by the Natives were exhibited in London amongst the first trophies of the explorers of New Zealand. Dressed flax, prepared by the Natives, was an article of export for many years; but it has not kept up in quantity, partly because the Natives find other more remunerative employment. Large sums of money have been spent by Europeans in providing flax-dressing machinery, but, as a rule, loss has been the result. In 1870 the value of dressed flax exported was £132,578, and in 1873 it rose to the maximum of £143,799. In 1882 it sank to £41,955, and in 1884 to £800. There are, however, forty hemp mills and eighteen rope and twine works in the colony, employing upwards of four hundred hands; but the majority of the raw material used is Russian hemp and Manila. A considerable quantity of phormium cordage is made and used in the colony. In 1873 it was £4,001, but since 1876 it has not reached £1,000 a year. The difference in the price of labour between New Zealand and, say, Manila is sufficient to account page 73 for the industry not taking very firm hold, and indeed it can scarcely he expected or hoped that the colony will compete with countries where labour can be had for threepence a day or even less. The exhibits of the Auckland Fibre Company and of Hale and Throp appeared to the writer to be all that could be wished for.