HIDE AND PELT MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23718, 26 July 1940, Page 10

HIDE AND PELT MARKET

Sir, —In your issue of July 23 Mr. Hall,' of Gisborne; tries to confuse the issue on the sale of hides and pelts. The issue is quite simple. Mr. Nash put forward a proposal to purchase the output of hides and pelts on a pooling system that would return to the growers last September's prices plus 25 per cent. The Imperial Government would not hiiy these commodities, but the New Zealand Government was prepared to take the risk, as it had sold all the rest of farm production. The prospects then looked bright for a good sale of hides and pelts to America. Within 20 minutes of Mr. Nash's broadcast explaining the proposals to buy hides and pelts, the Farmers' Union waited on -him, protesting that, as Britain did not want them, they should have a free market and get all there was in them for the farmer. Mr. Nash gave way to the union and because he did the farmers will get about £250,000 less this season. We know the union did it in all good faith and thought they were looking after farmers' interests, but, at the same time, once again the Minister has shown that he also is concerned with giving some stability to the farming industry. J. G. Barclay.