MARKET FOR HIDES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 July 1924, Page 7

MARKET FOR HIDES

FURTHER WEAKNESS IN LONDON. Conditions continued depressed in the hide and leather market throughout the world, and a further weakness is quoted in London this week, particularly with regard to hides of 351 b and upwards. Tho United States has not yet recovered from the extreme depression experienced in the leather trade six months ago. The Australian market continues to be flooded with Queensland meat works’ hides. Queensland sellers are meeting the market, and are not holding any hides in salt stocks. As regards calfskins, the New Zealand and Australian season for which is just commencing, the production this year in both countries will be considerably greater than it was last season, and much in excess of local tanners’ requirements. Discussing the market an authority stated that although opening prices for tbe season would lie ip dined to be higher than last year’s, they would he on a much lower basis than the closing rates last Decernber-Januarv. The average opening price last season was 3s 6d a skin, and this season it would be about 4s. Heavy supplies of Continental skins are still available both in America and on the Continent, and best quality skins could recently be bought for about 4s each, according to the latest American quotations. At the Auckland hide and skin sales the market was easier in sympathy with overseas conditions. Calfskins showed a drop of over Id per lb. Following were the prices realised: Ox Hides—Heavy (701 b and upwards) up to 8d per lb, 591 b to 691 b up to 531 b to 581 b np to 6;ld, light from 4Jd to s;ld. Cow hides: Light 4)d to 4Jd, medium 5d to s.{d, second grade (light) 3:’d to 4d, heavy 4-Id to 41d. Cut hides: Cow up to 4d, ox 4 : )d to sd. Calfskins! Best grades, light un to 12d, cut and faulty 7ld to 91 d. .Sheepskins were in good demand, and there was keen competition for dried skins. Three-quarter*to full wool, best made up to 14-id ner lb for fine crossbreds, medium crossbreds to 14d, coarse 13d to I3.]d, second grade un to 114 d, damaged 10.)d. Half wools; Best medium crossbred up to 12d. coarse best to lljd, faulty and second grade to 10 ; )d, damaged to Sd. Quarter wools; Best to 9-|d, second grade and faultv to 7ld, damaged to 3ld. Salted sheepskins: Three-quarter to full, extra large to 12s 9d each, large to 11s, medium to 9s 3d. Half to three-quarter wools to 7s each, second grade at prices relativelv lower.