EXPORT OF HIDES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 10

EXPORT OF HIDES

PA TIMERS PROTEST AGAINST EMBARGO. (By Tclesraiih—Siiacinl - Correspondent.) Palmerston North, March .27. • At a meeting of the Provincial Executive of tho Farmers' Union to-day the cliairniau (.Mr. Marshall) said- lie bad had several letters and telegrams from Ihe .executive regarding the embargo oil the export of hides. So far as he couid find out the embargo meant Unit all hides were handled in the Dominion. This meant, that, the grower was penalised in order that Hie tanners might profit. Their hides did not meet in. open competition, n-hich 1 hey should. The fanner really lost, about Is. Id. per hide, which, of course, went into the pockets of the tanners, who got higher prices for exporting, them in the 'shape' of leather. He quoted statistics in support of this. He had been requested, not to make the matter too public, as it might have a bad ell'ect.

Mr. Campbell objected to such matters being kept quiet. It was the duty of I lie Fanners' Union Id"*' expose these things. It was simply done by a servile Government iii| order to catch, volts. _ Sir James Wilson said it wn.s their duty to protest agaiust such anomalies, which really meant exploiting the farmers. The same thing i;as now going on iu connection with potatoes, and lie contended that it was finite time that all this price-fixing should be dropped and fanners should get the advantage of (ho open market-.

111'. M'Leavey said I here had been too much interference altogether, which was responsible for tlio high cost.of. living." Several other members gave instances of the high prices which were being charged for leather aoods, which were .of. inferior quality. Eveutually r. resolution was passed strongly protesting against the embargo on the exportation of hides ami ■potatoes, and expressing the opinion thai the«, trndu restrictions on the exportation of produce nmst discourage production in future.