SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
fair percentage is precisely identical with the heaviest grades retained here. The 
argument, therefore— 
“that if the British experts condemn it for military purposes they could 
_,, hardly allow it to be used for civilian boots” 
is‘not’ Sound’ réasoning. cere rite 
Australian leather has at all times enjoyed a ready sale on the London market, 
and the quality to-day ‘is filly équal ‘té'that shipped in the past.. Evidences are 
‘not, wantin that there, at the present time, it is keenly sought after... The prices 
realized for thé last’ shipment in’ October, 1917, is undoubted and convincing 
evidence as to its quality and worth. ote : ; ; ie 
"* Opinions ‘are firmly held that theré dre influences at work to not only keep 
Australian léather Out of the United Kingdom, but to draw as largely as circum- 
stances will permit on Australian raw hides. There is certainly good ground for 
such’ Wetieh ft nowy Pema Peer a ny Meet hs 28 eS 
It is beyond dispute that, although light in substance, some of the‘ highest 
quality leather has been lying here’ awaiting expor't, ever since the British embargo 
on leather was imposed eighteen months back, and, although cables have been 
despatched intimating that—if on account of shortage of shipping space or for 
any other reason high grade’ leathers’ only are wanted at Fome—the Common- 
Wealth Government’ is willing to ¢o-opérate” in any way’ desired to insure that 
only best tannages are' shipped.’ Notwithstanding this Commonwealth guarantee 
authority cannot Be ébtained to’ ship oné ounce of leather. ost el 
On the other hand, many thousands’ of hides—the great bulk of which are 
either fearfully ticky, damaged, or biills—have been, ‘and’ are being,’ regularly 
shipped. From such hides it is an utter impossibility to produce first-quality 
leather, ‘yet; forsooth, these hidés’ are being readily accepted, whilst choice 
leather is strictly forbidden. _ 
Australia ioldS a record of which any country may justly be proud for the 
high‘standard’of ‘leather equipment supplied to her’ troops in all the theatres of 
war, including France, where the weather conditions are wet and sloppy. Large 
repeat orders ‘for boots now being executed for ‘the Australian Imperial Force in 
“Mr. Coombs’ conélusions that— pe 
“if the Australian’ tanning industry had been thoroughly organized ‘at the 
beginning ‘of the war, Australia would now have been producing and 
exporting’all classes of military leathers, with the single exception of light 
sole leather for a ‘wet climate,” ~' 
are not well founded. It ‘certainly ‘so happens ‘that large Orders for’ military 
leathers on account of the Indian’ ‘Government have from time to time been 
leather be examined, it will be found that in its manufacture a fair amount of 
dréssing has been used. nhs ligidead SST ae ; : : 
Tn coriclusion, this. Board recognises that, in réspect to a number of Australian 
productions ‘of leather, there i§ room ‘for improvement, ‘and to ‘such end legislation 
on the lines above referred to—retating to military leathers—would be of material 
ASSISLANCeA = ea eee 4 ei : : paged M ? 
_ On .the°other hand, it is recognised that quite a number of tanner§ are live, 
progressive men, and are ever-anxious to keep fully abreast ‘of’ the times”in pro- 
ducing leather of the highest quality ; 
The one stumbling-block now eyen to the maintenance of the normal production 
of Jeather in Australia—apart from the desirable: expansion and development of 
the industry—is the refusal of the British authorities to sanction shipping space 
being provided for our surplus leather. ATl that this Board urges in respect of 
sis is that Australian tanners be given a “ fair deal,” and there will be no ‘cause 
or complaint, | 
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