H.—3o.

STATISTICS. The following table shows the quantities of tallow purchased by the United Kingdom Government, and shipped from Ist August, 1940, to 31st July, 1941 : — Tons Tons (Net). (Net). First beef • • • ■ ■ • 1,500 Superior stearine .. .. .. 420 First mutton .. .. .. ..2,068 Pig-fat, inedible .. .. .. 18 Good bright mixed .. .. .. 992 Hog-grease .. .. .. .. 60 Good colour mixed .. .. ..3,536 Edible mixed.. .. .. .. 56 Fair to good mixed .. .. .. 1,565 Edible lard .. .. .. .. 35 Fair mixed .. .. .. 959 Hide-grease .. .. .. .. 51 Good gut .. •■ •• ■• 1,881 Medium gut .. .. .. .. 717 14,345 Low gut .. ■ • •• • • 487 The total value of the shipment quantities quoted above is £312,913 (New Zealand currency)Permits were granted to shippers to various overseas countries from Ist August, 1940, to 31st July, 1941, as under : — Tons. To United States of America .. .. .. .. ..6,010 India .. .. .. .. ■• ■• •• 5,792 Australia .. .. .. .. ■• •• •■ 1,400 Canada ..500 13,702 Shippers to India were hampered by shortage of shipping space, and some of the tallow included in the above-mentioned quantity has not yet been shipped. TALLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL SOAPMAKERS. The local soapmakers have continued to obtain their supplies through their usual channels at the fixed local prices for tallow. ACCOUNTS. The tallow accounts are shown in the accounts section at the end of this report, page 38. The accounts cover purchases of tallow by the Department up to the 31st July, 1941, and they comprise Purchase and Sale Account, and Revenue Account. It will be observed from the accounts that the purchase and sale transactions to 31st July, 1941, show a surplus of £91 after allowance has been made for administration and general expenses. HIDES. The report for the 1939-40 season gave details of the action taken by the Government in regard to control of export of hides and stabilization of prices of hides for local requirements, and equalization of values of hides for local use and for export by a levy on exports to even up the difference between local " standard domestic values " fixed at Ist September, 1939, prices plus 25 per cent., and export values. This procedure is embodied in the Hides Emergency Regulations 1940, and the administration of the regulations is entrusted to a Hides Committee, which operates under authority conferred on it by the Minister of Marketing. REPORT OF HIDES COMMITTEE ON OPERATIONS FOR PERIOD ENDING 31st MARCH, 1941. The following report has been submitted to the Minister of Marketing on behalf of the Hides Committee by the Chairman, Mr. A. P. O'Shea :— " I have pleasure in submitting the first annual report and Statement of Equalization Fund covering the period from the inception of the Hides Committee on the Bth March, 1940, to 31st March, 1941. " Export Levy. —An interim equalization levy of 10 per cent, on the value of all hides for export was fixed at the outset of the operations of the Committee and pending full consideration of the exact amount of levy necessary for equalization purposes in terms of the regulations. The amount of the levy has been varied from time to time in accordance with variations in the f.o.b. export value of hides to which the levy relates. " The following table sets out the particulars of the various changes in the rate of levy during the year : —

" The amount of levy payable is calculated on the weights invoiced to overseas buyers, and such weights are declared on the Customs Department export entries. (Note. —Just after the 31st March, 1941, it was found necessary to increase the levy to the following figures—ox and cow hides, fd. ; bull hides, fd. ; yearlings, fd. ; calf-skins (other than freezers), 3d. per pound. This increase was due to heavy claiming of hides by tanners and an increase in the export values.)

30

Kates of Levy. Dates of Changes : Calf-skins Effective on and after— Qx Hides Cow Hides. Bull Hides. Yearlings. (other than Freezers). 1940. d. d. d. d. d. 8th March . . f I I I 1 14th June i i i I J 29th June is its is ilk \ 19th December .. f I I i 1