AUSTRALIAN LEATHER. 
(2) “That all leather used in making up the boots to be of Australian 
manufacture, free from flaws, of correct colour, and not inferior to that in 
the sealed pattern in any respect. It is to be free from impurity, weighting, 
or other matter not required in the preparation of leather of the best 
quality. Provided that the following shall not be deemed to be loading 
substances :— 
“In the case of sole leather, glucose and sugar to the extent of not 
more than 3 per cent. taken together, and fats and oils to the extent 
of not more than 5 per cent. taken together.” 
(3) That the use of sulphuric acid in the manufacture or preparation of 
the leather is strictly prohibited. 
(4) All sole leather to be well and faithfully rolled. 
Tt will thus be seen that the Department has set a very high standard as to 
the leather to be used in the manufacture of military boots. 
On the question of the use of glucose or sugar in leather, opinions vary some- 
what. Where leather is highly tanned, and taken from liquors of high strength 
of tannic acid, it must of necessity have some dressing applied. If glucose or 
sugar to the extent of not more than 3 per cent. be used, it certainly is not 
injurious. The assertion by Mr. Coombs that— ; 
“Glucose or sugar cannot be used in small quantities as a finishing 
agent,” 
cannot for a moment be accepted. They certainly can, and, moreover, are being 
so used. 
That some tanners use much larger quantities of glucose and sugar is recog- 
nised, but there is no necessity or warrant for it. Strange to say, that whilst the 
Commerce Act (a Federal measure) protects users of Australian leather in other 
parts of the world by prohibiting the export of leather from Australia if it 
contains above 10 per cent. of these materials taken together, there is, in some 
States, no such legislative protection afforded Australian users of leather. 
If legislation (both Federal and State) were enacted, and provision embodied 
in the measures similar to those set out in the specifications relating to military 
leathers, above referred to, it would be a distinct advance. 
Mr. Coombs’ reference to the use of extracts is in order. No exception, how- © 
ever, can be taken to the use of extracts which, throughout the world, are coming 
into favour. The objection is in the abuse of their usage by forcing same by 
ase of drums into leather of comparatively short tannage. In such a way satis- 
factory results so far as yield of weight is concerned are obtained; but for produc- 
ing a permanently close, solid, and superior leather the old method of long 
tannage in pits stands alone. 
Coming to the second part of the subject, that of the export leather, Mr. 
Coombs refers to— ’ 
“the large amount of Australian leather which, for unknown reasons, 
could not be exported from Australia ”; 
and, later, after expressing the opinion that the bulk of the leather both made 
and used in Australia is of inferior quality, goes on to say— 
“There is no doubt that a large proportion of this inferior leather has 
been exported to England, and those men who are advising’ the British 
Government as to the most suitable leather for military boots certainly 
know that this particular leather will not give desirable results, especially 
in a wet climate. There is no doubt in my mind that the British leather 
experts know the quality of this leather, and if they condemn it for military 
purposes, they could hardly allow it to be used for civilian boots. Now, if 
my statements are correct, it is not a fair proposition for us to expect the 
people in a wet climate like England and France to wear this leather on 
the soles of their boots.” 
Unfortunately, it is true that there are large accumulations of Australian 
surplus leather awaiting shipment to the United Kingdom, but, that this is due 
‘to its inferior quality, as presumed by Mr. Coombs, and so declared by certain 
British authorities, is not borne out by fact. There are other reasons. . 
It has never been contended that Australian surplus leather is suitable for 
British military purposes; it is too light. The heaviest and best grades produced 
in Australia are prohibited export from Australia, as they are urgently needed 
here for military and certain civilian purposes. What. leather is exported is 
admittedly light in substance, but for actual quality and character of tannage a 
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