H—3o

REPORT OF HIDES COMMITTEE ON OPERATIONS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946 The following report has been submitted to the Hon. the Minister of Marketing on behalf of the Hides Committee by the Chairman, Mr. A. P. O'Shea : I have pleasure in submitting the sixth annual report and statement of the Equalization Fund for the year ended 31st March, 1946. Export Levy.—There has been no change in the rate of levy during the past year. Current rates of levy are as follows : Ox-hides .. .. .. .. .. .. One penny farthing (1-J;d.) per lb. Cow-hides .. .. .. .. .. One penny farthing (lfd.) per lb. Bull-hides .. .. .. .. .. One penny (Id.) per lb. Yearlings .. .. .. .. .. .. One penny farthing (ljd.) per lb. Calf-skins (other than freezers) .. .. .. Threepence (3d.) per lb. Sale of Hides to Australia.—The arrangement made between the Governments of New Zealand and Australia continued at the prices set out in the schedule below until 20th August, 1945, when Australia restricted their purchases to heavy hides in the following classes : Ox-hides .. .. .. .. .. 48 lb. and up (all grades). Cow-hides .. .. .. .. .. 51 lb. and up (all grades). The ruling price schedule as at Ist April, 1945, was as follows :

As previously mentioned, the ox-hides 40/47 lb. and cow-hides 40/50 lb. were deleted from the schedule on 20th August, 1945. On 12th September, 1945, the contract with Australia was cancelled, and shipment of existing stocks as at that date was completed by November, 1945. Statistics.—The following shows the number of hides claimed by the tanners, and the number freed for export under the regulations during the year ending 31st March, 1946 :

Financial Report.—The following summary shows the position of the Equalization Fund as at 31st March, 1946: £ s. d. Bank balance as at Ist April, 1945 .. .. .. .. .. 22,008 11 2 Receipts from levy .. .. .. .. .. .. 83,098 19 4 105,107 10 6 Part payment of subsidy of £40,000 .. .. .. .. .. 35,000 0 0 140,107 10 6 Less claims paid to tanners, freezing companies, and exporters .. 112,925 17 10 27,181 12 8

38

— Freezers. Abattoir. Country Butcher. First Country. Second Country. Third Country. Ox-hides 40/47 lb. 10* 9ft 9* 8ft 8* 7ft Ox-hides 48 lb. up — Average weight 49/52 lb. 10* 10* 9* 9* 8* 8* Average weight over 52/54 lb. 10ft 10* 9ft 9* 8ft 8* Average weight over 54/56 lb. 10| 10* 9f 9 i 8| 8i Average weight over 56/58 lb. 10# 10* I0f 9ft 9* 8ft 8* Average weight over 58/59 lb. 10191 9f 8f 8f Average weight over 59/61 lb. 10# 10* 9ft 9^ 8ft 8* Average weight over 61 lb. 11 10£ 10 9£ 9 Cow-hides — 51 lb. up 10* 9# 9fe 8ft 8 w 7ft' 40/50 lb. 10* 9# 9* 8ft 8& 7ft

— Ox. Cows. Bull. Yearlings. Calf-skins. Tanners' claims Freed for export 125,255 113,352 256,619 229,703 1,443 25,429 32,639 11,546 32,606 39,919 Totals 238,607 486,322 26,872 44,185 72,525