Large tanning industry might be established

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32604, 12 May 1971, Page 19

Large tanning industry might be established

If the findings of a feasibility study now being undertaken by Fletcher Holdings, Thomas Borthwicks and Canterbury Frozen Meat Company prove to be acceptable, the way could be open for the establishment in New Zealand of a tanning industry that would be the biggest in the world, according to the latest issue of “C.F.M.’s News.”

This is the forecast of Dr J. S. Watt, associate director, technical, for Fletcher Holdings, who is guiding the feasibility study.

The world’s biggest tan neries handle about 2m pelts annually, but Fletchers, Borthwicks and Canterbury Frozen Meat are thinking in terms of North and South Island tanneries capable of handling up to 10m pelts a year. "It will be big—certainly

bigger than anything else in the world,” said Dr Watt. At present pelts are exported in pickled form and considerably higher export earnings would result from exporting tanned pelts. Mr J. C. Fletcher, managing director of Fletcher Holdings, said that each company had been carrying out independent investigations into the feasibility of processing skins within New Zealand to a further extent than the pickled pelt stage In the latter half of last year the three companies had decided to poo! their resources in investigating the establishment of tanning facilities capable of processing a large proportion of the pelts now exported in the pickle. Mr Fletcher said that the basic concept was to form a company which would have as shareholders meat exporting companies, overseas tanning interests, which could provide processing and marketing know-how, and other interested parties such as brokers and exporters After exploratory talks overseas, a delegation had discussions with the leather industry in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe in December.

As aVesult of this mission the three companies had decided to complete a detailed feasibility study of the tanning of lamb skins, including technical, operational, commercial and financial aspects. Pilot tanning To aid market evaluation, the companies were proceeding with pilot tanning to several specifications of lamb crust leather to suit varying markets and end uses. The initial study was being made on skins from South Island works, which had already agreed to supply a representative range of pickled lamb pelts. The trials would be extended to the North Island later. Mr Fletcher said that the reaction of interested parties had been very pleasing and he emphasised that the basic idea was to have as many of them as possible with a shareholding in the proposed company. Referring to the fact that the Waitaki Fanner’s Freezing Company had al-

ready begun to tan skins for export. Dr Watt said that Fletchers had held discussions with the company. “We expect to work in with them—we do not consider ourselves in opposition.”