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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 76

New Zealand Hemp

New Zealand Hemp.

In company with Mr. J. A. Kohol, resident partner of Messrs. B. S. Thompson and Co., general merchants, of Montreal, I waited upon the Cordage Company of that city. The manager received us very graciously, and he expressed the hope that the result of my visit would remove the prejudice that existed against the purchase of New Zealand hemp. He frankly admitted that our fibre was very suitable for many purposes, espe- page 16 cially for binder-twine. I was gratified to hear from such an excellent authority that New Zealand could always rely upon a regular outlet for its fibre at market rates, providing that a continuity of a reliable article could be assured. He also gave me to understand that rope-and cordage-makers throughout America and Canada were for many reasons desirous of buying New Zealand hemp, not the least important being that a fuller supply of Phormium tenax enabled manufacturers to control the prices of sisal, while at the same time it assisted them in fixing contracts with vendors of binder-twine, thereby insuring the full employment of their own mills.

Upon my suggestion that he should send a trial order to the colony, he replied that his previous experience of some seven years ago was so unsatisfactory that he did not care to venture until he could be positively assured that supplies equal to the sample I submitted could be guaranteed. Notwithstanding the fact that New Zealand hemp had just been offered at 5¾ cents per pound, c.i.f., as against sisal at 8 cents per pound, he would not again venture to order our fibre until he was positively assured that a uniform quality would be supplied.