HIDES AND SKINS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 22

HIDES AND SKINS

PROPER PREPARATION MILLIONS A YEAR LOST BY NEGLECT DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL WEALTH {From Our Own Correspondent) (By Mail) LONDON, Nov. 6. Losses of considerable magnitude, estimated at several millions a year, are suffered bv Empire producers of hides and skins owing to reduction of quality through faulty preparation in the countries of origin. This fact is emphasised in a monograph on “The Preparation of - Empire Hides and Skins,” which, has been prepared by the Imperial Institute, to provide in a single volume information that will assist those engaged in the industry to raise the quality of hides and skins sent to the world’s markets by drawing attention to the faults encountered in the goods as received by the tanner, by describing the requirements of the latter, and by pointing out the methods which should be followed, resulting from the investigations which have been and are being carried out in the Empire on this subject. In some of the highly-organised meat works in overseas countries and in certain large abattoirs, the commercial value of careful treatment is well understood am} practised. It is the small and scattered producer, and more particularly the native cattle owner, who is most to blame, and whom it is desired to educate through official veterinary services and commercial contacts. The monograph is edited by Dr J. R. Furlong, vice-principal of the Plant and Animal Products Department of the Imperial Institute. It is the outcome of a proposal made by Dr E. C, Snow, manager of the United Tanners’ Federation and secretary to the International Council of Tanners, to a meeting of the Imperial Institute Consultative Committee on Hides and Skins. The committee, in adopting the proposal, suggested that the authorities concerned in Empire countries should be invited to co-oper,ate in order to include in the monograph an account of the hide and skin industry in each country of the Empire. The Dominion, Indian, and colonial authorities concerned readily agreed to co-operate in securing the desired information. • FAULTY PREPARATION The preface to the volume states that hides and skins, with certain "specified exceptions, are needlessly damaged through lack of care in preparation, and when sold to the tanner realise only part of their potential value. Disease and other causes contribute to the lowering of quality, but, in the main, faulty preparation is responsible for the principal damage. The loss in market value : due to this cause represents in the aggregate an annual wastage of considerable magnitude, a loss which is borne by the producers and which is avoidable. The subject has aroused considerable interest in recent years in the tanning industry and in responsible official departments in the producing countries. A certain amount of investigation and educational work with a view to improved methods of flaying and preparation, in which some cases the Imperial Institute has cooperated, has been carried out by veterinary departments in Empire countries. A small amount of research work, on disease and problems connected with the improvement of quality has also been conducted by official and trade organisations, partly in the United Kingdom and partly overseas. The need for further work is admitted on all sides. BRANDING ON BUTT UNDESIRABLE Dr Furlong draws attention to the need for preventing damage to hides and skins by disease and by the warble fly, by injuries through animals scratching themselves on barbed wire fences, and by branding animals on the butt, the most valuable part of the hide, instead of by a small mark on the hoof, ear, or cheek. A section devoted to Australia estimates the value of the Dominion trade in hides and skins at £5,200,000 in 1934-35, equal to 7 per cent, of the value of the pastoral industry. About 39 per cent, of Australia’s hides and 59 per cent, of the production of sheepskins are exported. The following criticism is made:—“ Damage from tick infestation and the results of heavy and numerous brands on the bpst parts of the hides lower their values. The eradication of tick, and a substitution for the'present method of fire branding, would therefore lead to an increase in the value of the products.”

A WELL-ORGANISED INDUSTRY

A survey of the industry in New Zealand, its exports, methods of preparation and the results of local investigations concludes with the following statement: —“The hide industry of the Dominion is well organised. Doubtless the products can be improved, and it is considered that in the first place the best method to adopt is one on the lines of compulsory grading. This should eliminate the criticism regarding lack of uniformity in classification, and also tend to improve the flaying. Blemishes such as brand and horn marks, also barbed wire scratches, will be considered in the proposed grading.”