DEALING IN HIDES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21057, 8 March 1940, Page 6

DEALING IN HIDES

EMERGENCY REGULATIONS GAZETTED TO-DAY MINISTER’S EXPLANATION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, announced to-day that the hides emergency regulations covering the sale of hides to both local and export markets, have been approved by the Gov-ernor-General in Executive Council, and will be Gazetted today. The Minister, in an interview, said the main provisions of the regulations were to ensure that local tanners secured full supplies for domestic requirements at stabilised prices, and at the same time prevent any undue dislocation of existing trading practices. The supervision of the sale of hides throughout the Dominion would now be the responsibility of the Hides Committee, the personnel of which is as follows: Mr T. A. Duncan, chairman of the Meat Producers’ Board, who will represent both the board and the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation; Mr S. L. Wright, president of the New Zealand Tanners’ Association; Mr J. F. Carter, president of the Master Butchers’ Association; Mr A. A. Moore, president of the Live Stock Butchers’ Association; Mr A. P. O’Shea, secretary of the Farmers’ Union; Mr J. P. Mackay, president of the North Island Freezing Companies’ Association, who also will represent the South Island Freezing Companies, Mr W. V. Watson, president of the Hides Exporters’ Association; and Mr G. P. Roberts, member of the Woolbrokers’ Association. Mr G. A. Duncan, director of the export division of the Marketing Department, and Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director-General of Agriculture, will be members of the committee ex officio. Essence of the Scheme “In my last broadcast on February 15,” said Mr Nash, “I announced that an alternative proposal to the Government’s pooling scheme had been presented to me by the president of the Farmers’ Union and also by the Hides Exporters and Freezing Companies’ Associations. It was maintained that this alternative method would give greater simplicity in working detail, and at the same time ensure that the producer received full market value for his hides at the time of purchase. “I agreed on behalf of the Government to give this proposal the fullest consideration, and as a result it has been decided to put these proposals into operation until such time as it may be necessary to review the position once again.

“In essence the regulations provide that local tanners will continue to draw their supplies from the usual

sources at current market values, and will then claim the difference between the price so paid and the standard domestic price, which is included in the regulations, from an equalisation account administered by the committee. This fund will be built up by means of a refund payable by all exporters of hides at the time of shipment overseas. “I sincerely hope the scheme will be successful in practical operation, and prove satisfactory to all interests concerned in the hides industry.”