HIDES COMMITTEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 2

HIDES COMMITTEE

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 7. The first annual meeting of the Hides Committee set up under the Emergency Regulations, 1940, to equalise the export and domestic price of hides was held to-day, Mr A. P. O’Shea presiding. “The number of hides and calfskins which have come under review in transactions recorded in the office is just on one million. The cost of administering the scheme is slightly less than one-third of a penny a hide, which means less than one hundredth of a penny per lb,” said Mr O’Shea. “That we have not asked too much money from the owners of hides is demonstrated by the balance standing to our credit at the end of the year, £153/17/10. The work of this committee is very little known, which indicates that we have done our job unobtrusively and efficiently. I have been gratified at the attitude of the members of the committee. There has been a spirit of forebearance and a readiness to reconcile conflicting interests which might well be an object lesson to the test of the Dominion. In almost all cases our decisions have been unanimous. There have been one or two instances where people have tried to beat the scheme, but in most oases there has been evidenced a real desire to make the committee function. I believe one of the reasons for this is that the work of the committee is entirely voluntary and members have fully responded for the sake of the work itself and not because of any reward attaching to it. In future we will probably have to reconcile widely divergent viewpoints, but if the same spirit prevails as previously I do not believe there will be any trouble. There has been little interference with ordinary trading conditions which will be of material advantage to the Dominion when the war ends, for exporters have had their overseas connections preserved.” Mr O’Shea praised the work of the secretary, Mr L. McCartney, and concluded: "While in another capacity I have had many differences of

opinion with Mr Nash he has given us every assistance, and as chairman of the Hides Committee I appreciate very much indeed his help to us.” RABBITSKIN SALE LOW GRADES DECLINE IN VALUE There was a full attendance of buyers at the Dunedin rabbitskin sale on Tuesday, when a large catalogue was again submitted. The competition was keen for all grades, but low grade skins declined by up to 12d per lb, while all other grades were firm. Prices were as follows: Small 41d, runners 62d, milky 54d to 651 d, summer broken 58d, summers 57d, light racks 73M, prime racks 72d, dawny autumns 74d, second early autumns 76Jd, first early autumns 87*d, second late autumns 88d, first late autumns 991 d, second incomings 103, first incomings 124 d, second E.W. bucks HOd, first E.W. bucks 131 d, autumn broken 68d, summer fawn 533 d, autumn fawn 61 Jd, summer black 62d, autumn black 67d, hareskins 26d, hair 25Jd.