asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the current price of imported hides.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Hides.
Mr. Blaney
The latest figures available relate to the month of October, 1950. During that month the average price paid for imported hides was 23d. per lb.
Mr. Blaney
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the prices per lb. paid for (a) home-produced hides, and (b) leather, in December, 1947, and the prices currently being paid.
There are a number of grades of home-produced hides but for comparative purposes I am selecting first clear ox hides. The price paid by tanners for these hides was 8¾d. per lb. in December, 1947, and is now 10d. per lb.
In the case of leather, there is a wide variety of types and grades. The price of a typical grade of sole leather which was 32½d. per lb. in December, 1947, is now 50d. per lb. In the case of upper leathers, prices rose from 18¾d. per square foot in December, 1947, to 34d. per square foot at present. A heavier type of upper leather was 43d. per lb. in December, 1947, and is now 63d. per lb.
The substantial rise in leather prices since 1947 is not due to the relatively insignificant rise in the price of domestic hides but principally to the increased proportion of more expensive imported hides being used by the tanners. In the ten months' period, January to October, the importation of hides was 7,437 in 1947 and 150,374 in 1950.