MARKETING OF HIDES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27643, 27 April 1955, Page 12

MARKETING OF HIDES

POSSIBLE REVOCATION OF REGULATIONS

TANKERS’ RIGHT TO BUY AT FIXED PRICES

(New Zealand Press Association J WELLINGTON, April 26. The prices of New Zealand leather boots and shoes are being kept at an , unnecessarily high level by the operation of the Hides Regulations, in the view of Federated Farmers. It is possible, however, that the regulations will be revoked. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake) has said in a reply to the federation that the whole question is being examined, and he hopes the Government will soon reach a decision.

The regulations have been in force for some years. Their purpose is to enable tanners to buy hides at fixed prices and to give them a pre-emptive right either at auction or when tenders are called. The council of the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers said in a letter to the Minister that overseas prices for most of the hides that came under the regulations had fallen well below the domestic prices at which New Zealand tanners must purchase their requirements. A comparison of pr ]?« s . * n February showed that the artificial domestic .prices were from 30 per cent, to more than 1000 per cent m one case above world market prices. The council said that besides putting up the cost of footwear in New Zealand the regulations were damaging export business, because of the right Pj e " em Pti°n given the local tanners, vendors of hides were frequently required to refuse good offers overseas in cases where the local tanners had exercised their pre-emptive right. Australia recently revoked its hides regulations, which were similar to those operating in New Zealand.