FEWER RABBIT-SKINS SOLD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 10

FEWER RABBIT-SKINS SOLD

FREEZING WORKS DEMAND

FOR CARCASES "The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, July 3.

The quantity of high-grade rabbitskins coming forward this year is about 30 per cent, less than in recent years, suggesting that rabbits are coming under control to some extent in the South Island, where freezing works take up to 75 per cent, of available carcases. There has not been the same demand in the North Island, where rabbits are increasing in northern districts.

Prices were up at Tuesday’s sales, especially for good winter skins which are in short supply, with the keenest demand for does. Last year local firms did not get the skins, as Canadian competition was particularly strong. The world fur market has been showing a considerably lower demand and prices, although rabbitskins have not been affected to the same extent as some other types of skin. Business has also been diverted to the New Zealand market by conditions in Australia, where the hatmaking industry went ahead during the war. The ddlnands of this industry, plus the export levy of Is ,6d per lb, has made competition by North American firms difficult and has brought orders to New Zealand which would previously have gone to Australia. Rabbits are a remunerative source of income to many men in country employment and to schoolboys in their leisure time. A considerable trade in skins is done by city firms with such trappers, although most of the skins received are second-grade because of inexperience in the correct methods of treatment. With a return of anything from 4d to 4s a skin, part-time rabbiters, who generally manage to collect a week-end bag of from two to five dozen, are making a substantial addition to their income. The value of rabbitskins exported from New Zealand for the 12 months ended on December 31 was £1,451,301.