"LOADED" LEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14150, 27 August 1909, Page 5

"LOADED" LEATHER.

THE VICTORIAN COMPLAINTS. By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. London, August 25. Mr. Winston Churchill (President of the Board of Trade) has informed Mr. Taverner (Agent-General for Victoria) that he is doubtful whether any administrative measures exist whereby the exportation of "loaded" leather from the United States and Canada to England can be prevented. Mr. Churchill suggests that Victorian tanners should take united action to bring the excellence of their leather before the public. USE OF ADULTERANTS. Mr. Taverner interviewed Mr. . Churchill a few'weeks ago ■ respecting the complaint by the Victorian Tanners' Association that the United States and Canada were exporting " loaded" leather to London. He urged the Minister to take action to prevent unfair competition. The Federal Analyst (Mr. Percy Wilkinson) last month supplied the Australian Minister of Customs with a report on "loaded" leather. Mr. Wilkinson reports that the statements of, the master tanners . were evidently based on-an analysis made by Dr. Gordon Parker, Director of Herald's Institute, Bermondeey, London. Dr. Parker analysed samples of English, Canadian, and the United States leather. He came to the conclusion with regard to the English samples that "evidently the custom of adulteration of English sole leather did not exist." An analysis of 35 samples from the United States tanneries showed that a'l except one contained glucose. Epsom salts were a common adulterant, and in two cases barium chloride was present. The whole of the samples were adulterated, and the total adulteration averaged 8.9 per cent. ; but Dr. Parker.added that "all American tanneries cannot be classed with the above." Mr. Wilkinson pointed out that yearly £3,000,000 worth of leather was imported from the United States into England. The Australian regulations compelled the presence of adulterants to be revealed in Australian leather, but leather imported into England from other countries was not labelled. He suggested that an official brand might be attached to denote the purity of Australian leather. That would give it the advantage to which it was entitled. ,