NOTHING LIKE LEATHER.

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1919, Page 6

NOTHING LIKE LEATHER.

BUT WHO GETS THE PROFIT?

FARMERS IN INQUISITIVE .MOOD,

GOVERNMENT ASKED TO

EXPLAIN

"Who gets the profit?" asked Mr Hugh Burrell at the executive meeting of the Wellington Provincial branch of the Farmers' Union at Palmerston North in referring to the embargo on hides. Proceeding, Mr Biirrell said that during the war the farmers did not object to the embargo on hides when the leather was neefled for soldiers' boots. After the war the embargo was lifted but it had been reimposed. They were told that the rea son was the Government-had arranged with the tanners and bootmakers to produce standardised boots at a certain price. In New Zealand they were receiving 13d for best ox hides, whereas in Australia they were receiving up to 2s per lb. In NewZealand the hides that escaped the embargo realised- Is 9d per lb and higher. Farmers were losing heavily on their hides and the standard ised boots had not come to light. A voice: They never will. INQUIRY URGED. Proceeding, Mr Burrell said he understood the scheme for standard ised boots had been abandoned. The question was who was getting the benefit? Whose pockets were the profits going into? Continuing, the speaker read a stock report of hides forwarded by the Wairarapa farmers and sold in Wellington. One lot of cow hides realised Is per lb, while a lot put up later realised 12 l-8d to 13 7-8 d for bull hides, 15 7-8 d for cow hides — and this was a lot rejected by the tanners. Other ox 'bides realised from to 19 1-Sd. The latter were hides of indifferent character, so as not to encourage the"tanners to take them. Two badly cut hides realised 17-Jd. If the tanners had got them they would have paid about lOjd. From the prices tfliey would realise what the farmers were losing. Tlhey ought to know who was getting the enormous profit and should ask he Government for a full inquiry. ARE THE TA-NiNERS GAINING? Mr Hubbard stated that at Foxton he saw a side of leather that cost 4s 9d a lb. It lhad merely gone through the tanners' hands. iMr Burrell: And the tanner got it for 13d. Mr (Hubbard said it emphasised what he was going to say. It would pay farmers to cut the hides and get a better price for them. When lea ther cost. 4s 9d a rtb farmers could draw their own conclusions as to who was getting tlhe profit. A voice: The tanners are taking it out of the farmers hides. (Laughter. Another voice: What becomes of the hides not taken by the tanners? CONCENTRATION. •Mr Burrell said they were available for export. If the tanners did not take the hides at the fixed prices the farmers could sell, them as they liked or export them. A voice: Good boy the tahner. Another voice: Good boy the Government. Mr Burrell then moved :—That the Government be asked to advise the Farmers' Union as to tJhe reason of the embargo, 'and to state who is making the profit out of the commandeer. Mr Robinson: Would .not it be as well to include potatoes? Mr Burrell: Let us have one thing at a time. The motion was carried unanimously.