GENUINENESS OF FURS

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 7

GENUINENESS OF FURS

RABBITSKINS IN CANADA

A TEADE PROSECUTION.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FEANCISCO, 28th July.

For seventy years since they were imported into Australia and New Zealand, rabbits have been vilified, but they have at last come into, their own, for their skins are now sold to the daughters of American millionaires as Iceland beaver and Iceland seal.

This is 110 idle flight of sensationalism by the yellow Press, but a fact, certified in sworn statements that form the subject of prosecutions instituted by the Federal Trade Commission agains firms doing business in the "United States.

The complaint of the Commission is that firms of dyers are dressing rabbit skins on contract for other manufacturing'firms. Part 2of the plaint says: "The dyer respondent uses a process for dressing and dyeing Australian and New Zealand rabbit skins which causes the fur of such, skins to resemble in appearance the fur of genuine seal skins, whereupon the said respondent causes such skins so treated to be stamped on the back thereof with a trade mark containing the words, "Iceland Seal" or "Iceland Beaver."

The plpint contends that the fur so produced and marked is greatly inferior to fur produced from the skins of seals or beavers, in that the pliability and wearing qualities of the leather and the lustre and wearing qualities of the leather and fur are also inferior; that the product resembles genuine fur in appearance only, but sufficiently to mislead and deceive the purchasing public. The garments are sold to jobbers and retail dealers in several states, who are thereby* enabled, alleges the plaint, to commit a fraud on the public. This conduct is held to be prejudicial to the interests of traders who honestly mark their rabbit skins and fursas such, and other traders who sell genuine seal and beaver skins and furs.

A general denial is filed by the defendants. They say they do not now deal in any fur skins so stamped, and will not do so in future; further, that, prior to purchasing, they will insist in future on having a true description of what they are purchasing.