OVERSEAS PRESSURE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 406, 13 April 1937, Page 2

OVERSEAS PRESSURE.

HIGH LEATHER PRICES. Strong Upward Movement. Dunedin, April 12. “With the enormous increase in ihe cost of hides, leather must go up • n sympathy,” said a leather expert when commenting on a suggestion of the Boot Traders’ Association that hides should be controlled and kept at a low cost. He s-aid That that would not be equitable because the actual producer of hides 'would not he able to get value on to-day’s overeas prices. Controlled markets were not fair To the producers. Exports end imports must be influenced by he world parity of prices ‘and no amount of control would alter the position. If control were introduced someone involved must suffer. This informant was also - definite on the point that there was no shortage of hides in New Zealand. A large surplus was being exported annually. The reasons why high prices were being paid for hides were so involved that it was.' impossible to attribute them to any particular cause. Each year approximately 75 per cent, of the country’s hides were exported, leaving about .25 per cent, for tanning here. In recent months T.heire had been a definite rising tendency in t.he overseas’ price of hides, -and -the latest advice received indicated- that the value would continue to increase.