THE PRICE OF LEATHER RAISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 1514, 9 November 1912, Page 8

THE PRICE OF LEATHER RAISED.

MANY HIDES EXPORTED, FURTHER INCREASE POSSIBLE. [BY TELEGRAM. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Pal version* North, Friday. A conference of representatives of the tanning industry from all over the Dominion was held to-day. It was resolved to increase the price of leather by Id per lb. This will make a difference to wholesale bootmakers of about 3s per dozen pairs of boots. The reason for the increase is the scarcity of hides owing to the quantity being exported. Hides are going chiefly to Vancouver, and the export trade is 6aid to be, almost.exclusively in the hands of one firm. Tanners suggest that the situation might be saved by an increase on the duty of imported boots; otherwise it is said the local bootmaking industry is seriously threatened. • Tho president of the Tanners' Conference informed a reporter that it is not unlikely there will be a further increase in the price of' leather shortly if hides do not become more plentiful. At the hide sales at Palmerston North to-day ox hides jumped up by Id per poundj the prices now ' being up to B|d, or equal to nearly £2 5s per bide. Cow hides increased by from «d to 2d, and fetched up to 7|d, equal to nearly 30s each. Calfskins uold at 6s per skin. This is an advance of 3s on cowhides and 4s on ox hides. New Zealand tanneifc require over 4000 hides per week.,i