PRICE OF BOOTS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 622, 8 April 1921, Page 2

PRICE OF BOOTS.

HIGH REPAIR CHARGES. IS IT PROFITEERING? COMPLAINTS FROM HAMILTON. “Twelve shillings and sixpence for lialf-soling and heeling a pair of boots! Why, in England a few years ago I never paid more than that for a new pair.” The man who spoke was indignant at what he regarded as a gross piece of profiteering. Certainly 12s 6d does seem an inordinate charge for such a repair, and, when the actual cost of the work is analysed, it undoubtedly savours very strongly of profiteering. Let us first investitgate the manufacturing expenses of a pair of boots. These can be set down as follows:

Cost of upper—3ft leather, Is 5d per ft, 4s 3d; lining. Is; machining, Is 3d; thread, 6d: cutting, Is. Sole — leather, 3s 6d: labour (machined) ss, (hand-sewn 10s 6d); rent and depreciation, Is. Total: 17s 6d machined, 23s hand-sewn.

It will be seen from this (that the actual cost of material in the average paii of boots, liberally set down is no more than 9s 3d, while the labour on the machine-made article is 7s 3d, including cutting and machining, and the hand-sewn pair 11s 6d. Let us put on 5s for handling,and we find that 22s Gd is reasonably high to pay for a pair of machine-made boots and, say, 30s at the outside for the handmade footwear.

Now let us look into the cost of half soling and heeling a pair of ordinary men’s boots. We will be generous in our estimate and assume costs as follows, making a liberal allowance in each case:—l4lb leather, 3s Gd; labour (hand-stitching), 4s (machine stitched, 2s Gd); grindery, Gd. Total: Handstitched Bs. machine stitched Gs Gd.

In the case of the cobbler, running his own shop, therefore he is amply repaid for his labour and material in the above-mentionel sums, but may we add even another Is for additional profit, the cost of half soling apd heeling a pair of men’s boots, handstitched, should not be more than 9s, and 7s Gd when machined or riveted. In the case brought to our notice however, an extra 4s has been added for “additional” profit, a sum which, prior to the war was Ml that was charged for the whole job. The Prices Tribunal is to visit Hamilton shortly, and this is one' of the cases that might, with benefit to the public be investigated.—Waikato Times.