N.Z. Benefits From Boom In Suede

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 1

N.Z. Benefits From Boom In Suede

Again in 1966 the world’s fashion-con-scious women will be wearing suede jackets, hats, stoles, coats and dresses made from New Zealand lamb skin, says “Meat Market,” a monthly publication of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd.

Overseas fashion houses want as much suede leather as they can get and they are paying record prices to get it. according to the journal. Top quality lamb pelts have recently fetched more than 140 s a dozen compared with 88s last December. More than 90 per cent of the demand is coming from the United States and the rest from Europe. If. as expected, the demand continues. New Zealand's! earnings from sheep and lamb! pelts will be well above last! year's record of £12.3m. Earnings could be higher! still, but too many damaged pelts are still coming to freezing works. The main damage comes from scratches.' shearing cuts and marks caused by faulty handling. Damaged pelts are downgraded to a lower price. This in turn is reflected in the schedule price paid to farmers for meat. Of the current schedule' paid to farmers for lamb I more than 4d per lb comes! from the sale of each lamb

> pelt, says “Meat Market.’’ And ■ if the returns from pelt and : wool sales had not increased t this season schedule prices would have fallen. ■ The quality of New Zealand i pelts frequently varies from i district to district and overseas pelt-buying agents each ' year visit all freezing works i to report on area pelt stani dards. At the works pelts are ■ graded for size, thickness and ;' general condition —there are 'six grades for sheep and five for lambs. Sheep pelt prices are also lup slightly this year, but again skin damage is causing thousands to be downgraded. Here shearing marks are the ! major trouble, damaging the grain that would otherwise be used to produce fine leather for such items as wallets and book bindings. Sheep pelts are split into two. The outside grain layer provides the fine leather, and the flesh side is turned into chamois leather for cleaning 1 p i irposes.