Again in P-NG

Manila Hemp

e Fibres Flap is On Again in P-NG

PH the memory of the kenaf iasco in mind, Territorians ire likely to adopt a wait-and olicy over the latest develop - In New Guinea fibres, ording to a London report, >t Ropeworks, the biggest ishment of its kind in the has its eye on NG Manila —now obtained by the com for dollars, from the Philip ras proved that kenaf could be in Papua-New Guinea and make sacks and wool packs to those made from imported However, the Australian Gov nt failed to support this in and it has now “folded-up.” he time that the kenaf boom >n, the editor of PIM was some Manila hemp trees in ;perimental station outside of id was told then, by an agri il officer, that he considered a better bet than kenaf. ila hemp looks like and is a a and the long fibres come the stem. It is heir to the is experienced by bananas— ng bunchy-top, although the t strain growing in New i is free of it. first suckers of Manila hemp mported before the war, and r after it, signs of latent Mop were detected. )rder not to introduce the ■ to native bananas, which i important food crop, all were destroyed, but some of 3ds were kept. :hy-top cannot be trans through the seeds, but, of seeds do not breed true to ; do suckers, and a consider ?riod of selection and breed ust pass before a desirable n be established. jw Guinea can do this it may Dmething valuable. Kenaf fell mostly because it could not iuced under NG conditions to e in price with Indian and mi jute. Can New Guinea e Manila hemp to compete lat from the Philippines?