Dec. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3283

(2.) Where there is any noticeable difference in the quality of the hemp or tow forwarded to an appointed grading-store in one lot and under one brand, the owner shall submit such hemp or tow in separate parcels of a uniform quality, with a distinguishing-mark on the back of the leather tag of each bale in each such parcel except the best, and the advice to the grader as provided for in the last preceding subclause shall show the distinguishing-mark of each such parcel.

(3.) Forms for the notification of such particulars may be obtained from the Government Printer, Wellington, at the rate of 9d. per book of fifty forms.

(4.) Every person who wilfully supplies false information on such advice as aforesaid commits a breach of these regulations.

8. (1.) No hemp, tow, or stripper-slips will be graded unless all the foregoing provisions have been complied with.

(2.) Any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips which on being opened for grading is found to be in a wet or damp condition will not be graded, but such hemp, tow, or stripper-slips may be dried and resubmitted for grading. The charge for grading provided by clause 14 of these regulations will, however, be made in respect of each lot of hemp, tow, or stripper-slips 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, tow, or stripper-slips sending the same to any of the appointed grading-stores must make his own arrangements for the transit of the hemp, tow, or stripper-slips to and from the store, and also for its shipment, including receiving, storage, opening of bales, and drawing of hanks for examination, rebaling, 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. (1.) 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 "

(2.) The following will be the standards on which the grades of hemp 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 no grader’s certificate, as provided for in clause 15 hereof, shall be issued in respect of any hemp which in the grader’s opinion has been so badly treated as to make it useless for the purpose of manufacture or for any other trade purpose.

11. (1.) The following will be the standards on which the grades of tow will be determined:—

No. 1 grade .. 80 to 100 points, both inclusive.
" 2 " .. 60 to 79 "
" 3 " .. 40 to 59 "

(2.) No grader’s certificate, as provided for in clause 15 hereof, shall be issued in respect of any tow scoring less than 40 points.

12. Stripper-slips shall be examined only for the purpose of determining whether each parcel is suitable for export. The grader’s certificate shall not show points or grade, but shall be clearly marked “Stripper-slips, passed for export”:

Provided that no certificate shall be issued for any parcel which in the opinion of the grader is not suitable for export.

13. The grade of each parcel of hemp, tow, or stripper-slips submitted for grading shall be determined by the grader upon opening 5 per cent. of the bales, and such further number as he deems necessary, and also, in the case of hemp, upon drawing hanks from as many additional bales as he considers advisable.

14. The charge for grading hemp, tow, or stripper-slips shall be 1d. per hundredweight or part of a hundredweight, calculated on the actual weight, when the price of hemp free on board at New Zealand ports is £25 per ton or over. No charge shall be made when the price of hemp is less than £25 per ton as aforesaid. The charge shall be computed separately on each parcel submitted for grading, and shall be payable by the owner on demand. Any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips resubmitted for grading in accordance with any of the provisions of these regulations shall be treated as a separate parcel.

15. As soon as possible after grading any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips the grader shall stamp the leather tag attached to each bale thereof with a mark (herein called a “grade-mark”) as shown in diagram No. 4 of the First Schedule hereto, indicating the grade of such hemp, tow, or stripper-slips as determined in accordance with clauses 10, 11, and 12 hereof; and shall also, if he is satisfied that the hemp, tow, or stripper-slips is intended for export, in the case of hemp or tow sign and deliver to the owner a certificate of the said grade (herein called a “grader’s certificate”) in or to the effect of the form numbered 3 set out in the Second Schedule hereto, and in the case of stripper-slips sign and deliver to the owner a grader’s certificate as provided for in clause 12 hereof. He shall also, if requested, sign and deliver a report on the hemp, tow, or stripper-slips to the miller whose brand it bears.

16. In the event of the hemp in any parcel being noticeably of less than average length the grader shall insert the words “Short” or “Very short,” as the case may be, on the grader’s certificate.

17. 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 parcels 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 certificate issued at the time of grading must in every case be returned before the inclusive certificate is given.

18. (1.) Owner’s marks, which may be affixed to bales in the appointed grading-stores by owners, will be registered on application to the Chief Fibre Expert, but no such mark shall be used until the owner has been advised by the said Chief Fibre Expert 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 owner’s marks.

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

20. No hemp, tow, or stripper-slips, 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.

21. No person shall export, or attempt to export, or be concerned in exporting, any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips unless it bears distinctly impressed on the leather tag provided for in clause 3 hereof the miller’s brand, the number of the bale, and the grade-mark, and unless a grader’s certificate in respect of such hemp, tow, or stripper-slips 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.

22. In the case of hemp, tow, or stripper-slips 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, tow, or stripper-slips 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.

23. The decision of any grader as to the quality, condition, or grade of any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips 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.

24. Except to dry, redress, or rebase the hemp, tow, or stripper-slips, 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 grade-mark, from any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips.

25. 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, tow, or stripper-slips; nor shall any person counterfeit any such tag, brand, or mark, or improperly impress or otherwise mark on any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips 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, tow, or stripper-slips branded by a miller in order to put therein or substitute any other hemp, tow, or stripper-slips; or use for the purpose of branding any hemp, tow, or stripper-slips any old tag bearing any miller’s brand or any grade-mark.

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

D