H.—3o

Minister of Marketing. It was understood that, if at any time during the current year tanners did not exercise their pre-emptive right to all or any part of the offering of ox-hides 45 lb. and over, the Committee will revert to the terms and conditions of the Hides Emergency Regulations. As there was no competition for ox-hides 45 lb. and upwards, the Committee compiled a schedule of prices as under: —

Poundage Tare: Loose

" This schedule remained in force until the 15th November, 1943, when the New Zealand Tanners' Association intimated that it was not in a position to take 100 per cent, of all ox-hides 45 lb. and upwards, and the Committee agreed to this request. " Financial Report.—The following summary shows the position of the Equalization Fund as at 31st March, 1944 :— £ s. d. " Cash in hand at Ist April, 1943 .. .. .. .. .. 37,988 0 4 " Receipts from levy .. .. .. .. .. .. 84,705 5 8 122,693 6 0 " Less claims paid to tanners, freezing companies and exporters .. 112,468 12 11 10,224 13 1 " Expenses to 31st March, 1944 — £ s. d. " Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 850 0 0 " Sundries (rent, phone, cleaning, &c.) .. .. 59 16 9 " Telegrams, stamps, and petty expenses .. .. 28 19 3 " Audit fee .. .. .. .. 20 0 0 " Bank fee and cheque book .. .. .. 2 10 0 — 961 6 0 9,263 7 1 " Add cash (stabilization payment referred to below) .. .. 35,000 0 0 44,263 7 1 " From this must be deducted claims which were finalized but not paid at 31st March, 1944 .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,976 15 8 36,286 11 5 " To this must be added estimated levy due on hides which have not been shipped or for which payment has not been received from H.M. Customs as at 31st March, 1944 .. .. .. 1.2,964 0 0 " Leaving an estimated surplus in hand of .. .. £49,250 11 5 " Stabilization. —When the scheme was inaugurated it was agreed that hides should be sold at the standard domestic price to tanners for the manufacture of leather for use in New Zealand. " A considerable amount of leather was used in the manufacture of boots for use outside New Zealand, and it was agreed by the consignees of the boots to make a payment to the Hides Equalization Fund equal to the levy which would have accrued had the hides been exported as hides and not as leather.

26

■o r\xr • i. Freezer, First, 4 per Freezer, Second, 4 per Range of Weights. Cent. Tare, f!o.b Cent. Tare, f.ab <1. d. 45/521b. .. .. .. .. 9| 8f 53/58 lb. .. .. .. .. 91 9 59/69 lb. .. .. .. .. 9| 9170 lb. up .. .. .. .. loj 9|

-d f xxT ' Abattoir, Abattoir, t* + i, Farmers, 1 armers, Farmers, Range of Weights. m« < 0 , ' Butchers, Butchers, 1JV , ' « , ' m , • i & b First. Second. j?i TS t ' g econ( i First. Second. Third. d. d. d. d. d. d. d. 45/52 lb. .. 8f 81 8| 7f 7f 7* 6f 53/58 lb. .. 8| 8f 8f 7| 7-| 7f 6| 59/69 lb. .. n 8f 8f 8 J 8J 7f 7* 70 lb. up .. 9f 9| 9J 8| 8|- 8J- 7f