HIDES AND PELTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 94, 22 April 1931, Page 16

HIDES AND PELTS

TECHNICAL REPORT

FAULTS POINTED OUT

The Prime Minister (the .Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) is arranging for reports tin tho purely technical aspects, developments, and requirements of various industries, and yesterday released the following report on hides and pelts. This j report was drawn up by Mr. P. White (Leather Besearch Chemist, of the Department of Scientific and industrial Itoseareh), Mr. A. Suter (Superintendent, Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company) and Mr. J. T. Kogerson (General Manager, Longburn Freezing Company). Reports oil other products will; be available shortly, and will bo published as obtained. The report is as follows: — "The Report of- the Imperial Economic Cotnniitte on Hides and Skins states: "The supply of sound leather is insufficient; yet tho supply of damaged hides and skins is so great that, in a comparatively short time, it should bo possible greatly to augment the amount of good leather in the world's markets." The question is not that of increasing the herds and flocks, but that of proper attention to a by-pro-duct of tho animal industry.

"Tho chief faults attached to New Zealand hides avo: (1) Brands. (2) Bad Haying. (3) Barbed "wire scratches and horn marks. (4) Improper curing. "Great losses arc caused by (1) and (3), control over' which really is in tho hands of the farmers. New methods of marking are necessary or great care must be exorcised in using tho present method of branding. Bad flaying is duo to carelessness or to inexperienced butchers. Improper curing, chiefly amongst country hides, is due to (1) lack of knowledge of tho.best way m Which to cure a hide; and (2) carelessness. "Tlie small amount of technical information available on the processing of pelts is not suitable, to the local conditions prevailing in New Zealand. During two seasons the available knowledge lias been increased, but requires to be further extended. The processes at present used are founded ' oil information'of processes used in other countries. These have been adapted to suit local requirements and increased output, very .often, without any. technical consideration as to whether the modifications were beneficial or other■wise. The men in chargo of pelt departments generally have a more detailid knowledge of wool than they, have of pelts. Thus, processes .that. have deleterious effects have become, established. The defects of New Zealand pelts arc:-(l) Butcher strain. (2) Foose grain. (3) Mottle grain (4) Loss of substance. Butcher strain is ■oreatly due to lack of caro on the pait of butchers. The remaining three defects are chiefly due to wrong processing." -