WOOL AND HIDES

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 8

WOOL AND HIDES

QUESTIONS RAISED BY WAR OFFICE, a CONFERENCE OF PRODUCERS TO BE HELD. The Prime Minister, with the object of ascertaining the views of producers and others regarding certain points which have been raised by the War Office in connection with the requisitioning of slipe wool, sheepskins, and hides for Imperial purposes, has decided to call a conference of interested parties, and to -this end a circular is being iesued to all freezing companies, tanners, wool-brokers' associations, fellmongers, master butchers' associations, meat exporters, and New Zealand farmers' unions, requesting that they will appoint delegates with power to act and to meet tile Prime Minister in Wellington on- a date .to be .mutually arranged: The circular which is being issued reads a e follows: Several communicatioua have been made by the New Zealand Government to the -Imperial authorities with' reference to the followin-r matters:—(l) The desire evinced by the majority of freezing companies that the appraisement of this season's slipe- wool shall bb made in New Zealand. (2) Ihe discrepancy disclosed last season between the not returns for butchers' and country skins and those from, sheep slaughtered at freezing works. (3) The disposal of freezing companies' pelts. (4) The requisition; of hides and calfskins for 1918. Replies have been received from the HA'&r Office covering very important proposals to the effect that—(a) Providing all slipe wool from freezing companies, and the resultant alipe wool from butchers' and country skins, are finally appraised in London, and, also that lamb pelts' are shipped ! only to England, the War Office will consider relinquishing the purchase and fellmongenng of butchers' and country skins; (b) it IS , de " sired during the present* year to purchase

for Imperial requirements only heavyweight hides. These proposals are of such importance and will have such a far-reaching effect on the disposal of the country's produce that it is considered advisable to hold a conference in Wellington in the very near future of all the parties interested to discuss the position. I shall be glad, therefore, if the various freezing companies will consider the proposals as promptly _as possible, and appoint two delegates from each island, with full power to act, to represent their interests at the conference. The main points to be considered arc to what extent will the interests of the country and the farming community be affected by (1) the desire of the Imperial Government that final appraisement of slipe wool bo made in the United Kingdom; (2) the proposal to abandon the requisition of butchers' and country skins and leave same to be purchased by fellmongers and dealers, the resulting slipe wool and the. lamb pelts to bo taken over bv the Imperial Government ; (3) the abandonment of the requisition of calfskins and all hides under 451 b weight.