NEW ZEALAND LEATHER

Temuka Leader, Issue 10462, 26 October 1929, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND LEATHER

WHAT WEAR TESTS SHOW.

The Leather Research Association in their annual report have some interesting remarks to make concerning New Zealand leathers. They state that, on the whole, boot manufacturers have been buying New Zealand leather in considerable quantities. However, attention was drawn to certain defects, such as bad colour, inability to scour the leather, and undue softness. The matter was investigated by the research association. Suggestions were made to overcome these defects, and the practical result has been to give satisfaction to the hoot manufacturers.

“In the past,” the association states, “Government institutions had not used New Zealand leather to a great extent. In the main, this was due to the fact that tanners had not known the requirements of the institution, and the latter took it for granted that the tanner was unable to produce the goods required. All of the institutions visited in New Zealand are now using New Zealand leather.”

Various problems concerning the growth of moulds on leather, the re-tanning of sole leather, and other details are reported to have been satisfactorily solved. Analysis recently made of New Zealand leather have shown very satisfactory results. Tests made with wear-testing machines show that leather produced in New Zealand is as good, if not better, than the English produst. In fact, the average of New Zealand leathers is higher’ than any imported leather that has been tested. Moreover, the water absorption of New Zealand leather is much less than English leathers, a valuable asset from the wearer’s point of view, for it means, amongst other things, that New Zealand leather, when wet, will dry much quickei. Samples of wattle bark, as used in the local tanneries, have been analysed. New Zealand wattle bark is found to be quite up to the average. At the moment investigations are in progress for the development of a supply of locally grown tanning materials.