STANDARD BOOTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2029, 16 September 1919, Page 3

STANDARD BOOTS.

A conference of persons interested in the production and use of hides is to be held in Wellington shortly. This will probably be a step in the revival of the standard boot scheme, which the Prime Minister had indicated in re|>ly to questions .m the House lie hopes to see placed upon a' satisfactory basis.

A previous conference, held some months ago, was responsible for the introduction of the system under which a limited embargo is placed upon the export of bides, allowing tanners to have first choice at schedule prices. This agreement was arrived at practically unanimously, the only dissent expressed coming from the Farmers’ Union representative, who objected generally to the imposition of any restrictions. One of the difficulties in the way of the operation of the slandaxal boot scheme previously was that the Government had no power to call for lenders, and thus itself undertake trade in footwear. There is no provision for trading in the Board of Trade Bill, so it would seem that a revival of the standard hoot scheme will he dependent upon a voluntary agreement with the hoot manufacturers and a’ settlement of the difficulties which have been raised regarding the standardisation of re-

qnisites other than sole leathers used in the manufacture of boots.