WOOL, SKINS & HIDES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 119, 6 February 1918, Page 8

WOOL, SKINS & HIDES

REQUISITION SCHEME . A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD The Prime Minister, with the object of ascertaining the views of producers and others regarding certain points which have been raised by the War Office in connection with the requisitioning of slipe wool, sheepskins, and hides for Imperial purposes, has decided to cull ;i conference of interested parties, and to this end a circular is being issued to all freezing companies, tanners, woolbrokers' associations, fellmongers, master butchers' associations, meat exporters, and New Zealand farmers' unions.'requesting that they will appoint delegates with power to act and to meet the Prime Minister in Wellington on a date to be mutually arranged. '"' The circular which is being issued reads as follows:—"Several communications have been made by tho New Zealand Government to the Imperial authorities with reference to the following matters :— "1. The desiro evinced by/the majority of freezing companies that the appraisement of this season's slipe wool shall be made in New Zealand. "2. The discrepancy disclosed last season between the net returns for butchers' and country skins and those from sheep slaughtered at freezing works. "3. The disposal of freezing companies' pelts. "4. The requisition of hides and calf skins for 1918. "Replies have been received from the War Office covering very important proposals, to the effect that— "(a) Providing all slipe wool froni freezing companios, and the resultant slipe wool from butchers' and country skins, are finally appraised in London, find also that lamb pelt 3 are shipped only to England, the War .Office will consider relinquishing the purchase and fellmongering of butchers' -and cpuntry skins. "(b) It is desired during the present year to purcliase for Imperial requirements only heavy-weight hides. "These proposals are of such importance and will have such a far-reaching effect on the disposal of the country's produce that it is considered advisable to hold a conference in Wellington in the very near future of all the parties interested to discuss the position. "I shall _be glad, therefore, if fellmongers will consider the proposals as promptly as possible and appoint two delegates from each island, with full power to act, to represent their interests atHhe conference. "The main points to be considered are to what extent will tho interests of the. country and the farmiug community" be affected by: "(1.) The desire of tho Imperial Government that final appraisement of slipe wool be made in the United Kingdom. "(2.) The proposal to abandon the requisition of butchers' and country skins, and leave same to be purchased by • feljmongors and dealers, the resulting slipo -wool and'the lamb pelts to he taken over by the Imperial Government. _ "(3.) The abandonment of the requisition of calf skins and all hides under 451b. weight. : ' c>l . "Will yompleaso notify me as soon as possible the names of tho delegates appointed, so that due notice can bo given of the date fixed for the conference."