194 



CORDAGE FIBRES 



station for the compulsory grading of all hemp ex- 

 ported. As a result of this, the quality of the fibre 

 rapidly improved, and the confidence of buyers was 

 secured. The system employed in grading hemp 

 for shipment consists in giving points according to the 

 following scale : 



Stripping, 25 ; colour, 25 ; scutching, 25 ; strength, 

 25 ; total, 100. 



The highest grade, " superior," must score 90 marks 

 or over ; " fine," 80-89 ; " good fair," 70-79 ; 

 " fair," 60-69 ; " common," 50-59 ; " rejected," 

 under 50. To each bale a tag is affixed stating the 

 grade of the fibre and bearing the signature of the 

 grader. 



The compulsory grading system has now been 

 extended to tow, according to the following scheme : 

 No. i Grade, 80-100 marks ; No. 2 Grade, 60-79 ; 

 No. 3 Grade, 40-59 ; below 40 marks, condemned as 

 unfit for export. By far the greater part (over 90 

 per cent .) of the New Zealand hemp exported is of the 

 " good fair " and " fair " grades. 



EXPORTS 



The following table gives the quantity and value 

 of the exports of New Zealand hemp for every fifth 

 year from 1856 to 1906, and for each year from 1909 

 to 1915 : 



Year. 



1856 



1861 



1866 

 1871 

 1876 



1881 

 1886 

 1891 

 1896 



In 1913, 28,092 tons of New Zealand hemp of value 



