PRICE OF LEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1927, Page 3

PRICE OF LEATHER

INCREASED COSTS OF HIDES .AND BARK . WELLINGTON, July 18. The reason for the recent advances in the price of leather were explained by the secretary of the New Zealand Tanners’ Association (Mr If. Ross). “I am continually being asked,” said Mr Ross, “why it has been found necessary to increase the price ot leather. Perhaps the following extract from a. letter we have just received will convey the answer: ‘AYe tanners are in a hole just now, with a vengeance. AYe have to recognise that the hoot manufacturers are having a had time, and yet because of the extraordinary position reached by medium and light hides all over the world, due to t licit- positive scarcity—fully 50 per cent higher than they were 12 months ago, equal to at least 3d per foot on cliome leathers—we have been simply compelled to advance prices. That, so far, has been done only to the extent of. say, 1.1 per foot (everyone being scared to go further), and yet it means a loss of 5s per hide on every hide being worked on present costings. AYe have been feeling strongly inclined to close down our hide department altogether for the time being, but do not like throwing a lot of men out of employment.’' “.Similar reasons cover the barktanned leather,’’ added AH' Ross, “hut to the troubles of the hark leather tanner is the added fact that his raw materials have advanced in price out of all proportion. Baric from the wattle tree, in previous years obtainable from South Africa at a cost of about £lO, advanced over the last six months to £ls owing to drought over there. Now it is unobtainable at any price. Extracts of wood, and other barks, have advanced in sympathy. A small tannery would use 25 tons of bark ill a month. It leaves Utile to the imagination to set* the excessive (<i-t of production, even withoul the advance, ill the price ot the hides. Australia cannot fill her own demand for hark, and New Zealand ( minor produce the wattle bark under bei labour values, at within pounds per ton of the market price. Trials m tin' past have not been suceesslul. "[■'or the information of the trade I may say that the "New Zealand Tanners' Association has nothing whatever to do with the fixing of prices ol leather by its individual membei-.