THE HIDE MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1731, 23 April 1913, Page 10

THE HIDE MARKET.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. In view of tho enhanced value of hides and skins ouvNew Zealand markets, the Director of tiio Live Stock and Meat Division of lire Department ' of Agriculture (Sir. C. J: Roaki-s) recently, according to tile Department's Journal, asked Mr. A. Crubb, tho Government's London veterinary officer, to investigate tho 'hide and tkm position in Great Hritaiu. Mr. Oabb's leport is as under:— I noto the conditions existing in New Keaknd, as described in your memorandum, and find, on making inquiries, that a similar state of affairs obtains here— namely, that values have had an upward ti.-ndor.ey lor some considerable time, that" the demand undoubtedly cxcceds the available supply, and that it is considered more than likely that such conditions will not only continuo but may probably become more acute.

Dealing first with the actual prices: An examination of the ordinary market quotations'shows that, the valuo of hides lias teen increasing more or less regularly' l'or somo years, and the following extract from, tho "leather Trades Review" _ of November, 1012, shows', the position: ".Sinco February last, hides have gono up as much as Jd. "per lb. Front 1801 to 1900 the prices went up steadily, dropped slightly in I'JOTf Mticu when they have ruled gradually higher until, in the spring of this year, they touched <d. To-day 7Jd. has to bo paid for hides of good quailty." The above refers to Great Britain, whilo on American report of October, 1912, states: "Market active; prices high—fully Ul. higher'than record prices of 1809; up to 19 cents."

As au illustration of tho moro or less steady increase in value, the following quotations may bo of interest; they are London prices mid refer to ox and heifer hides (first); but a similar rise in price is noted in hides of all grades:— 9011) 591b. and upwards, and under January. I'er lb. Per lb. 1909 s}d. i'id. 1910 (ijd. aid. 1911 sijd. ijd. 1912 ssd. s^d. During the year 1912 the rise, in value was very marked, tho price increasing month by month until in December last 901b. ana up were quoted at 7 S-Bd.; and light weights at 7Jd. per lb. During this month the prices liavo cased slightly, the latest quotations being 6Jd. and respectively; even this, however,' being <jn increaso of lkl. to 2d. per lb. in four years. As to the cause, I find that this question has \been exercising the minds of those interested in this country for some considerable time, and various reasons lmvo'bcen given for tho disturbed state of tho market; it is not, however,- considered to bo due to any trust or market manipulations, but the result of u genuine,and gradually increasing shortage.

Statistics show that, in most countries, tho increase in the number of cattlo is not in proportion to that of tho human race, and that there aro now less cattlo per thousand of tho population than was the case some years ago. Other contributing conditions aro (as in New Zealand), increase of dairying resulting in decrease in weight of hides, increase of individual wealth and of demand for luxuries, .the last-named involving a decided increaso in the uses to which leather is put.

Again quoting from the "Leather Trades Review" of Novemlwr, 1912, .1 find the position dealt with as follows: "Owing to a variety of causes, one of them being tho rapid tievelopmeut of the motor-car industry, there is ail unprecedented demand for leather and a great shortage of hides .... there is apparently not the slightest likelihood of any drop in prices taking place; indeed, tho tendency 'is, rather tile other way." - , :. ' ' Then, dealing with th)o cause, the samb report continues: "A greatly increased demand has, doubtless, contributed something to tho 6hortago of hides, but tho more important factor .is that, both here and abroad, fewer cattle arc being reared. In America alone during tho last twelve years, while the population lias increased 25 per cent., tho supply of cattlo has shrunk by 7 per cent.' 1 As illustrating tho smaller proportion of cattle to population, tho following figures, although it has not in ail cases been possible to bring them right up to date, will be of interest

Number of Cattle to each Fopu- 1000 InCattle. lation. habitants United Kingdom— 181)5 10,800,000 38.800,000 278 1904 11,600,000 12,700,000 271 1911 11,860,000 45,360,000 261 United States— lSilO 57,000,000 07,600,000 852 ISIOO ...... 02,000,000 75,600,000 820 1910 69,000,000 91,900,000 750 Argentine— 1888 27,500,000 4,600,000 5,978 '1904 33,000,000 5,900,000 5,593 Australia— 1893 11,600,000 3,090,000 3,754 1911 11,7-10,000 4,470,000 2,026 New Zealand— 1904 1,700,000 800,000 2,125 1911 2,020,000 1,050,000 1,923 India— 1898 87,000,000 228,500,000 381 1903 85,100,000 231,800,000 367 On tho other hand, Canada and Russia show a slight increase iu the number of cattle, as under;— Number of Cattlo to each I'ojpu- 1000 InC'attle. lation. habitants G'anada— 1901 5,000,000 5,600,000 1,000 1911 7,900,000 7,200,000 1,097 Russia— 1883 27,600,000 102,000,000 209 1904 33,200,000 110,000,000 286 The increases, however, have not been sufficiently largo to balance matters, as from tho latest statistics available tile proportion of cattle to inhabitants of the whole world is as follows:—In 1880■ there were 192,000,000 cattle as against a pojiulation of 411,000,000, or 407 cattle to every 1000 inhabitants; in 1908 the figures were 209,400,000 cattle to 572,700,000 people, or 383 cattle per thousand.