198 ANIMAL PROTEINS 



production are unheard of, but the industry has certainty 

 developed along the lines of the large trusts. I^arge busi- 

 nesses have replaced small, and later still have formed local 

 federations, which in turn have combined to form the 

 "United Tanners' Federation." War conditions have 

 certainly stimulated evolution towards the trust type. The 

 United Tanners' Federation has become possessed of powers 

 which were not originally contemplated, such as the purchase 

 and distribution to its members of hides, bark, extract, sul- 

 phide and other materials. How far some of these arrange- 

 ments will be permanent is problematical, but one beneficial 

 result is that the allied trades have certainly realized more 

 thoroughly their unity of interests. This is shown by the much 

 freer collaboration of the tanners, and by the encouragement 

 now given to similar collaboration between their chemists. 

 More evidence is found in the proposals for combined research. 

 There is also considerable reason to believe that there 

 is some movement in the direction of partial State control. 

 There is little doubt that evolution along trust lines will 

 make this less difficult and possibly more desirable. The 

 country cannot afford the spectacle of a leather Trust 

 permanently at war with a I/abourers' Union. The public 

 has realized that the well-being of the leather industry is 

 vital to the national safety. It has realized that the leather 

 trades are great producers of national wealth, and that 

 increased production with the development of the export 

 trade will materially assist to restore the country's financial 

 position. It has realized also its own right to protection 

 from bad leather and from exorbitant prices. On all these 

 grounds it is probable, though there may be some reaction 

 from the present position, that the State, which has already 

 got its fingers in the pie, will refuse to draw them out alto- 

 gether. The Imperial aspect of the question affords some 

 further justification for this attitude. The leather trades 

 operate very largely upon imported material, and it is clearly 

 desirable that there should be close co-operation between the 

 home industry and the colonial supplies of material. Here 

 too the war has also given a great stimulus in this direction. 

 Indian myrabolans has long been a staple tanning material. 



