CONCERNING LEATHER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3507, 19 June 1920, Page 3

CONCERNING LEATHER.

WELLINGTON, June 16. A deputa'.ion representing retail bootmakers waited on the Minister of Customs to-day and asked that in view of the shortage of leather suitable for boo: soles the present import duty of twopence per lb. on leather be remitted. It was stated on behalf of the deputation that there were no; sufficient hides in New Zealand of the riglit weight to produce the sole leather required for boot manufacture in this country. The result had been that bootmakers had been compelled to use for soles leather much too light for this du'.y. If the request, were granted New Zealand makers of leather would not suffer, because even in prewar tinies it had been the custom of war times it bad been the custom of for soles, and for tanners < o import heavy hides. The Minister, in reply, said that the question of revision of the tariff was now before Cabinet, but it was improbable that any hing would be done by way of legislation during next session of Parliament. He hoped that tariff revision proposals would be considered by Parliament next year. In the meantime, it was intended that a Board of Inquiry, consisting of Customs experts, should go into all tariff matters, and the representations of The deputation would bfi placed on record, in order that, they might be put before the Board. People interested would also probably be given an opportunity of giving evidence or otherwise placing I heir views before the Board.