2536
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 71

6. For the purpose of examination and grading all hemp for export shall be stored by the owner thereof in one of the appointed grading-stores at least four clear days before the grading thereof is required to be done.

7. (1.) The owner shall at the same time submit the hemp for grading by giving the grader at, and the person in charge of, the appointed grading-store in which the hemp is being stored full particulars in writing of the brands and numbers on the bales, and the total weight of the parcel.

(2.) Where there is an appreciable difference in the quality of the hemp the owner shall submit it for grading in separate parcels of a uniform quality, with a distinguishing mark for each parcel except the largest, and a separate advice, showing the distinguishing mark, shall be given for each such parcel.

(3.) Forms for the notification of such particulars may be obtained from the Government Printer, Wellington, at the rate of one shilling per book of fifty forms.

8. (1.) No hemp will be graded unless all the foregoing provisions have been complied with.

(2.) Any hemp which on being opened for grading is found to be in a wet or damp condition will not be graded, but such hemp may be dried and resubmitted for grading. The charge for grading provided by clause twelve of these regulations will, however, be made in respect of each lot of hemp found to be in a wet or damp condition, and a separate charge made when the same lot is resubmitted for grading.

9. Every owner of hemp sending the same to any of the appointed grading-stores must make his own arrangements for the transit of the hemp to and from the store, and also for its shipment, including receiving, storage, opening of bales and drawing of banks for examination, rebailing, packing, delivery, and any other service, including insurance and protection from damage or loss of any kind, as the Government undertakes no such duty and incurs no liability in any such connection.

10. In grading hemp the following will be the maximum points for allotment:—

    For stripping .. .. .. 25 points.
    For scutching .. .. .. 25 "
    For colour .. .. .. 25 "
    For strength .. .. .. 25 "
    ——
    Total .. .. .. 100 "

11. The following will be the standards on which the grades will be determined:—

    A grade (“Superior”) .. 90 to 100 points, both inclusive.
    B “ (“Fine”) .. 80 to 89 " "
    C “ (“Good Fair”) 70 to 79 " "
    D “ (“Fair”) .. 60 to 69 " "
    E “ (“Common”) .. 50 to 59 " "
    F “ (“Rejected”).. under 50 "

Provided, however, that any grader may absolutely condemn any hemp which, in his opinion, has been so badly treated as to make it useless for the purpose of manufacture or for any other trade purpose.

12. The charge for grading hemp shall be 1d. per hundredweight or part of a hundredweight, calculated on the actual weight. This charge shall be computed separately on each lot submitted for grading, and shall be payable by the owner on demand. Any hemp resubmitted for grading in accordance with any of the provisions of these regulations shall be treated as a separate lot.

13. As soon as possible after determining the grade of any hemp the grader shall impress into the leather tag attached to each bale thereof a mark (herein called a “grade-mark”) indicating the grade of such hemp as determined in accordance with clause eleven hereof; and shall also, if he is satisfied that the hemp is intended for export, sign and deliver to the owner a certificate of the said grade (hereinafter called a “grader’s certificate”) in or to the effect of the form numbered 2 set out in the First Schedule hereto. He shall also, if requested, sign and deliver a report on the hemp to the miller whose brand it bears.

14. On the request of the owner any grader shall substitute for separate certificates issued at the time of grading one inclusive certificate for two or more lots shipped by the same vessel. Blank forms for this purpose will be supplied on application to any grader, and must be filled in by the owner and submitted to the grader for his signature. The separate certificates issued at the time of grading must in every case be returned before the inclusive certificate is given.

15. (1.) Owners’ marks, which may be affixed to bales in the appointed grading-stores by owners, will be registered on application to the Secretary for Agriculture, but no such mark shall be used until the owner has been advised by the said Secretary that the mark has been registered. In no case shall the miller’s brand be removed or in any way interfered with. In every instance the owner shall notify the grader immediately before affixing such marks.

(2.) No fee will be charged for the registration of owners’ marks.

16. No person shall remove from an appointed grading-store, except for the purpose of immediately shipping it, any hemp in respect of which a grader’s certificate has been issued, unless such certificate is first surrendered to a grader.

17. No hemp in respect of which the certificate has been or ought to have been surrendered in accordance with the last preceding clause shall be exported until it has been resubmitted for grading and a new certificate has been issued in respect thereof.

18. No person shall export, or attempt to export, or be concerned in exporting, any hemp unless it bears distinctly impressed on the leather tag provided for in clause three hereof the miller’s brand, the number of the bale, and the grader’s mark, and unless a grader’s certificate in respect of such hemp has been issued and is still in force. A grader’s certificate which has been surrendered, or which ought to have been surrendered in accordance with any of the provisions of these regulations, shall for all purposes be deemed to be cancelled and to be no longer in force.

19. In the case of hemp for export that, in the opinion of any grader, has become damaged or deteriorated after grading and before shipment, the owner thereof shall when directed by such grader to do so submit such hemp at an appointed grading-store for re-examination, and shall surrender to the grader the certificate issued in respect thereof. If the grade is altered on re-examination, all charges shall be payable by the owner as in the case of an original examination.

20. The decision of any grader as to the quality, condition, or grade of any hemp shall be conclusive, and no action or other proceeding shall lie against any grader, or against any other officer of the Crown, or against the Crown, in respect of any erroneous decision of a grader as to such quality, condition, or grade.

21. Except to dry, redress, or rebale the hemp, or to use the same for manufacturing or other trade purposes, no person other than a grader in the execution of his duties shall remove, or cause to be removed, wholly or partially, any miller’s or owner’s tag, brand, or mark, or any grader’s mark, from any hemp.

22. No person shall alter or obliterate, wholly or partially, or cause to be altered or obliterated, any miller’s or owner’s tag, brand, or mark on any hemp; nor shall any person counterfeit any such tag, brand, or mark, or improperly impress or otherwise mark on any hemp any mark purporting to be the brand or mark of a miller or owner, either with the proper marking instrument of the miller or owner or with a counterfeit imitation thereof; or empty, or partially empty, or otherwise interfere with any bale of hemp branded by a miller in order to put therein or substitute any other hemp; or use for the purpose of branding any hemp any old tag bearing any miller’s brand or grader’s mark.

23. Any person committing a breach of any of these regulations is liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty-five pounds.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

[Form No. 1.

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF HEMP-MILLER’S BRAND

To the Secretary for Agriculture, Wellington.

I, [We], [Name], New-Zealand-hemp miller, of [Address], do hereby request you to register the undermentioned brand for use by me [us] in branding bales at my [our] mill situated at , in accordance with the regulations under “The Products Export Act, 1903,” governing the grading and export of New Zealand hemp.

Particulars of Brand.

Signature: .
Usual postal address: .

Dated at , this day of , 190 .

[Form No. 2.

[Arms.]

New Zealand.

Department of Agriculture, Fibre Division, , 190 .

GRADER’S CERTIFICATE.

THE undermentioned New Zealand hemp has been graded by me as shown:—

, New Zealand Hemp Grader.