SLASHING OF HIDES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3395, 28 January 1920, Page 3

SLASHING OF HIDES.

.....4«,.___ EMBARGO REHOVAL SOUGHT. HAMILTON, Jan_ 26. The personnel of -the committee set up by the Government to go into the question of the embargo on -hides‘, which meets on Tuesday next in Wellington, was criticised by a meeting of the Hamilton branch of the Farmers ’Union on Saturday. Mr E. McGregor mentioned the fact that the committee was to be comDosed of two representatives of the freezing companies, two of the manufacturing merchants, two of the tanners and two of the producers. He did not think this right, as the producer was the chief man to be considered, and sh=o-uald have the ‘balance representation. Major -Whyte thought the matter was purely one between the producer asd coirsunier, and that the middleman should hardly be considered in the matter. Mr John MeGreg‘or said the preducer should have at least halt‘ the representation. The meeting decided to enter a protest against the personnel of the committee and to ask for a bigger representation for the producer_ Mr E. MCGl'eg‘or also referred to the unt‘a.irness of the embargo on hides. which was simply enabling the tanners of New Zealand to nu-ofi—-teer at the expense of both the mo(lucer and purchaser. At present no leather was permitted to leave New Zealand until the Dominion tann~?rsl had satisfied their own requirements. This. embargo was imposed with the! idea of keeping down the cost of boots in New Zealand, but it had failed in. its object, and simply gave the tanners an addritional profit. Not only this, but the tanners. after picking at all the best hides for themselves, out ‘off the inferrior parts. Even so, it was possible to get higher prices abroad for these inferior and slashed pieces than they were getting for the hides sold locally. Some farmers were,‘ in fact, cleliberal'ely slashing good hides in order to prevent the Dominion tanners getting them. The embargo should be removed and the producers should be given a free market for hides. as for all other classes of produce. A committee was set up to investigate the alleged slashing of hides.