COST OF BOOTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2096, 28 February 1920, Page 2

COST OF BOOTS.

THE position brought about by the removal of the embargo on the export of hides, as it affects the boot manufacturers, the retailers, and finally the, public, was the subject of a point statement by Mr H. Clark, president, and Messrs A, Trcmvorth and 0. A'. Coles, members of the Auckland Boot Manufacturers’ Association, to the New Zealand Herald. The statement was as follows; —“The first hide sale in Auckland since the Government embargo was lifted, which took place on Tuesday, has resulted in the tanners advising the hoot and shoe manufacturers that hides have advanced from the former price of Is 2d per lb. to Is lid. Consequently the tanners have raised their prices for all qualities.of leather as follows: —Sole leather, over (50 per cent.; chrome leather, SO per cent.; and kip, about 50 per cent. This means that the public will have to pay from 3s fid to Ss more-’ for women’s and children’s bools and slices, while the retail price of men's boots will be raised from 5s to 11s a pair. The present position would not have occurred for some time to ('omo if freezing companies and hide dealers had not persisted in hoarding hides during the last six u.mllis. The statement was made recently by the Government; hoot adviser to (ho Board of Trade, Mr C. J. Ward, that: one (inn in New Zealand possessed hides to the value of over £1,000,000, awaiting the opportunity to export. At the current rale that firm would secure, an extra profit of over £500,000. The tanners also stated that the prices quoted on Tuesday will only hold good for one week. This makes it impossible for manufacturers to take orders for standardised boots, as (hey cannot obtain the necessary supplies of leather at the firm price. As a business proposition, - therefore, it is considered impossible to put standardised boots on the market without having the price of leather standardised.”