WILD PIG SKINS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 459, 17 June 1937, Page 6

WILD PIG SKINS

LEATHER MANUFACTURE Experiments To Be Made Negotiations are under way for the despatch of a parcel of 50 wi;ld pig skins to a Wellington tannery firm, which will process the skins, enddavour to find a market for (the leather and report to ‘the Lands and Survey Department. A §um of £5O is included in the department's vote for the experiment, which it successful may lead .to the development of a useful commercial market for wild pigskin leather. The steps that Wave so far been taken were oultlinied yesterday by Mr W. J. Polson, M.P., who has interested himself in a project likely to be welcomed by residents in ‘the hinterland of bis electorate. For years, he said, sattlers had been trying to obtain assistance by subsidy or bonus to lower the numbers of wild pigs land lessen their depredations on flocks in the back country. Efforts had been successful, b«|t the assistance was lost when slump times caused a. reduction in Government expenditure. Source of Revenue. Should ithe latest experiment be successful, the wild pig will be a tource of revenue rather than an object of Government expenditure without a direct return. A deputation comprising Mr and Mrs D. Mcßean, Ngatamiro, and Mr A. Wilton, Whangamomona, waited on Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister ot Internal Affairs, in April, 1936, and discussed the suggestion wilth him. The Government considered the niaitter, land in Atigqst the Hqn. F. Langttone, Minister of Lands, wrote to Mr Wilton milking pertain suggestions.

If 50 skins were sent to Wellington tannery, Mr Langstone said, the tannery would be prepared to process them and endeavour to find a market. The department was prepared to pay 5s a skin on such a parcel and would take the responsibility for the freight, provided that a report of the results was made available. It was essential that the department should he able to recognise some person or committee as being in Charge of the master, aqd Mr Lungstone suiggestled' Jt.hat Messrs Mcßean and Wilton, with Mr W. Telfar, Whangamomona, might act as suph a committee. Proceeds to Consignors. “The proceeds from the sale of the skins to the tannery would be payable t° the consignors of the skins,” concluded Mr LUngstone’s le'ler, and in the event of the experiment showing possibilities of economic development fc is hoped thglt persons in districts affected with wild pigs will be sufficiently interested Vo take up the business of dealing with wild Pig skins.”

The proposal was not advanced at the time, but Uhls week Mr Polson received a reply from Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal ALLirs, to correspondence in April. ’An Hem of £5O is being continued on the Lands and Survey Department’s vote to provide funds for carrying out the experiment in regard to ithe tanning of skins for commercial purposes," advised Mr Parry. ‘ It will therefore be seen that Jt lies in the interests of the settlers concerned to make some effort to assist the department to obtain the necessary skins for the experiment. Meanwhile it is not proposed Ito take any ether action.”

Efforts are now being made to obtain a parcel of suitable skins.