HIDES AND PELTS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1931, Page 9

HIDES AND PELTS

TECHNICAL REPORT. FAULTS POINTED OUT. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) is arranging for reports on the purely technical aspects, developments and requirements of various industries, and has released a report on bides and pelts. This report was drawn up by Mr, P. White (leather research chemist of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research), Mr. A. Suter (superintendent, Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co.) and Mr. J. T. Rogerson (general manager, Loiigburn Freezing Co.). Reports on other products will be available shortly, and will be published as obtained. The report is as follows:—

“The report of the Imperial Economic Committee on Hides and Skins states: “The supply of sound leather is insufficient; yet the supply of damaged; hides and skins is so great that in a comparatively short time it should be possible greatly to augment the amount of good leather in the world’s markets. The question is not that of increasing the herds and flocks, but that of proper attention to a by-product of the animal industry.

“The chief faults attached to New Zealand hides are: (1) Brands. (2) Bad flaying. (3) Barked wire scratches and horn marks. (4) Improper curing. “Great losses are caused by (1) and (3), control over which really is, in the hands of the farmers. New methods of marking are necessary or great care must be exercised in using the present method ot branding. Bad flaying is due to carelessness or to inexperienced butchers. Improper curing, chiefly amongst country hides, is due to (1) lack of knowledge of the best way in which to cure a hide; and (2) carelessness. ,

“The small amount of technical information available on the processing of pelts iS not suitable to thg'lof'iil conditions prevailing' in New Zealand. During two seasons the.- available/ knowledge has been .increased, but requires to be further extended. The processes-at present used are founded on information of processes used in other countries. These have been adapted to suit local requirements and increased output, very often without any technical consideration as to whether the modifications were beneficial or otherwise. The men in charge of pelt departments generally have a more detailed'knowledge of wool than they have of pelts. Thus, processes that have deleterious effects have become established. The defects of New Zealand pelts are:—(l) Butcher strain. (2) Loose grain. (3) Alottle grain. (4) Loss of substance. Butcher strain is greatly due to lack of care on the part of butchers. The remaining three defects are chiefly due to wrong processing.”