HIDES AND SKINS EXPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 9

HIDES AND SKINS EXPORT.

» REASONS FOR THE EMBARGO.

' STATEMENT BY BOARD OF TRADE, i The embargo upon the export of hides ] and calf skins, and the recent criticism 1 by the Farmers' Union, were the subject ' of a statement yesterday by the Board of Trade. The embargo was not absolute, it was stated, in that permits for export would be granted for all hides and calfskins not required for New Zealand tan- J new. The object of the regulations was ■ to provide that tanners should have their ■ j requirements met. The prices for hides bad been fixed at the old Imperial } schedule rates as follow .-—Ox-hides, first ( quality, over 451b, up to freezing com- , panies' beet standard, Is Id; others, first , quality, le ; ox-hides, second quality, Hid; cow-hides, first quality, up to freez- , ing companies' best standard, Is; others, i first quality, lid; cow-hides, second i j quality, Mtyd; bull-hides, good quality. I ( <jd; calfskins, first quality, 101b and | under, Is 6d. All other grades and quali- j ties, including cut and slippy hides and calfskins at relative values. These prices, it is stated, were considered to be fair by the producers, and while it was true that the market had i advanced since, the board considered that, , in the interests of the consumers gener-1 ally, hide prices should be controlled, as leather prices were subject to sharp fluctuations, and necessarily the prices of footwear showed an advancing tendency also. Another main reason for the action taken by the board was to protect its standardisation of footwear scheme.