Leather Quality Criticised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 22

Leather Quality Criticised

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, December 19. Unless the quality of New Zealand leather and suede improved, a decline in demand by importers could be expected, particularly as competing synthetics were cheaper and of consistent quality, said the chairman of the Leather and Shoe Research Association (Mr F. Ollivier).

Hundreds of skins were being rejected every day as unsuitable for processing into top grade leather and importers of New Zealand leather had made it plain the market could not be expected to continue paying luxury prices for faulty merchandise. Recently there had been an increase in the number of complaints received from overseas tanners and it had been reported that less than 10 per cent of New Zealand hides and skins were free of imperfections. The prevailing situation was causing concern as manufacturing costs made leather and suede goods highly-priced commodities. To the overseas

tanners’ worries was the added threat posed to leather and suede by synthetic materials.

Rejected hides and skins resulted in a considerable reduction in export income and the price that could be paid to producers. “Damaged hides and pelts are robbing New Zealand of nearly £3,000,000 a year,” said Mr Ollivier. In spite of strong competition from synthetics, leather was still in demand. In 196465 production from 11 tanneries in New Zealand increased by 5.6 per cent. Production for the year was valued at £3,308,000 compared with £3,161,000 for the previous year, a rise of 4.7 per cent.

The industry provided work for 706 people. Last year the total employed was 675 and in 1962-63 it was 655. The wages bill for 1965-66 was £772,000.

According to a Statistics Department report, skins exported during the year ended March 31, 1966, were valued at £19,873,000. The 454,881 square feet of dressed leather exported was valued at £822,248. Two years ago the tannery deplored that more than half of the country’s first grade leather was being lost because of the poor condition of yearling stock going into freezing works.

The tell-tale effects of mishandling of stock showed up clearly in skins going through the New Zealand tanneries. Hundreds had to be put aside every day for processing into leather of a much lower grade. For many years tanners have been appealing for better stock but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “It is disheartening to find that more than half the skins from yearlings in such bad condition,” said the principal of a large tannery (Mr L. Astley), in October, 1964. A recent move to get an Improvement had been the appointment of a sub-commit-tee to campaign against practices which are responsible for the current losses in revenue from hides and skins. Federated Farmers, tanners, exporters, the Department of Agriculture and the Young Farmers’ Club are represented on the committee.

In Mr Astley’s opinion, New Zealand, with compar-

able skins and hides, produces leathers every bit as good as those which have such a high reputation in Britain and the United States.

Some idea of the importance of quality in the production of leather can be gauged from the manufacture of basketball and footballs. Special treatment is given to leather used for this purpose in order to meet the rigid specifications laid down by football manufacturers.

Enough leather is made every week to meet the seasonal requirement of footballs and basketballs which is currently approaching 1000. Other leathers are required for schoolbags, decorative leather panels for transistor radios, wallets and purses, and dog collars. With so much to gain from greater care in handling stock on the farm and in transit, the bid for improved quality by tanners was understandable, said Mr Ollivier.