SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Australian Leather. 
Its Quality Defended. 
By R. J. ANDERSON. 
(In the previous number of Science and Industry, there appeared. a report 
furnished by Mr. Coombs, of the Sydney Technical College, to the Institute of 
Science and Industry, upon some defects in Australian leather. Mr. Coombs’ 
report was forwarded by the Advisory Council. to the Commonwealth Leather 
Committee for comment. The deputy chairman of that body, Mr. Rk. J. Anderson, 
then” reported as follows) :— 
The report herein submitted by Mr. F. A. Coombs, Tanning Department, 
Technical School, Sydney, and referred by. the A'dvisory Council of Science and 
Industry, has been duly considered by this Board. 
The subject may rightly be divided into two parts— 
(a) Leather for Australian use. 
(b) Leather for export. 
In connexion with the former, Mr. Coombs states that— 
(1) Boot manufacturers require a cheap and inferior leather; 
(2) If the people were keen and could detect it, the boot manufacturer 
would be compelled to use leather of a higher standard. 
(3) As the people do not demand a good sole leather, the standard must 
necessarily be low. 
(4) He does not wish to give the impression that all Australian leather 
is not up to a desirable standard. 
(5) But he does not hesitate to say that a large proportion is inferior 
as regards quality. 
(6) The production of this inferior leather is probably due to the fact: 
that there is a big demand for it. 
(7) To produce this cheap leather, the tanner reduces the time for the 
tanning process, and fills up the leather with extract and glucose. 
The majority of these points cannot be conceded. ‘The public demand generally 
is for good and reliable footwear. Boot manufacturers are fully alive to this 
fact, and, in consequence, are very keen on securing the highest standard of 
leather. : 
From information furnished this Board, it is beyond dispute that tanners of 
high-grade leather cannot nearly satisfy the demands for such leathers, and in a 
number of instances such tanners are making considerable additions to their plant 
to enable supplies being given. : 
One thing is certain, namely, that of all the hides produced in Australia the 
best are tanned in Australia, and when converted into leather the best of same, 
absolutely, is used in Australia. 
Admittedly there is—as with all other commodities—a demand by a certain 
section of the public for low-priced footwear, which cannot be other than: of 
inferior quality. 
Mr. Coombs also states that, in his opinion— 
“The Federal Government could have done a lot to improve the quality 
of local leather by adopting a certain standard for military sole leather,” 
and, later, submits certain suggestions relative thereto. 
The suggestions put forward by Mr. Coombs are on right lines, but these, 
practically, have already been adopted by the Department of Defence. 
_ The authorities have been fully alive to the importance of producing the 
highest standard military boot. In connexion with large contracts for same now 
being executed, the specifications provide— 
(1) “That the soles of the boots are to be cut from the best Australian 
tanned crop, and to be equal in substance and quality to those in the sealed 
patterns ” (which are recognised to be of the highest standard). 
* This reply was written on 12th September, 1918. 
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