VALUE OF HIDES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 74, 27 March 1916, Page 2

VALUE OF HIDES.

REDUCED BY 15 SHILLINGS.

FARMERS VOICE A PROTEST,

Farmers are complaining that the prohibition enforced by the Government on the export of hide's has reduced the value of store cattle to the extent of 1:5/ each. The position was explained by Major D. H. Lusk, of the Farmers ’ Union. He said that when the Government found that a shortage of leather existed for the making of strong military boots it was decided that no hides should be allowed to leave the Dominion until further notice. The fact was evidently overlooked that the tanneries’ of New Zealand are capable of dealing with only , one-fourth of the hides produced in the 'Dominion. ’ It was realised that this would have the effect of causing a glut and enabling tanners to obtain their supplies at much lower prices. Then the Government decided to stipulate that producers must not be paid less than a certain price, and also tb provide that special permits to export might be obtained under certain conditions. At the first auction sales after the prohibition the price fell considerably, and the position to-day was that the price of hides all round had fallen to the extent of 2d per lb. ‘‘What the Government should have done/' said Major Lusk, "was to commandeer all the hides that were required for the manufacture of military boots—something like 85,000 pairs. They could have left competi- j tion to do the rest.” The speaker : added that it was his intention to in- j terview the Minister of Munitions on : the subject, in order to see-, if something could not be done to rest'pre the value of the hides held by farmers.