THE COST OF BOOTS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 518, 30 March 1920, Page 1

THE COST OF BOOTS

EFFECT OF HIDE PRICES. OPINION OF A MERCHANT. LITTLE INCREASE JUSTIFIED. Recently "The Franklin and Pukakohe Times" published a leading article advocating the removal of restrictions on the sale of hides. It was a rather interesting coincidence that these restrictions were removed a day or two after the article appeared* in print. Evidently our views were shared by the Cabinet, but that is by the way. The following report of the opinion of a Wellington merchant on the subject exactly bears out the contentions of this paper on the question:— "The public is being told that the change in the arrangements for the sale of hides is causing an enormous increase in the price of boots," said a member of a firm dealing extensively in hides. "That may be the case if the public is willing to put up with it. How much leather is there in an average pair of boots? The quantity is not more than two pounds, and the price of hides has not advanced more than Is per pound. How then does the bootmaker justify the suggested increase from 10s to 12s per pair? "There is apother point. The Government Statistician's index number for leather in December, 1916, was 1510. In December, 1919, while the embargo was still in force, the index number had risen to 2344. Yet the price of hides in 1919 under the embargo was pretty much the same as at the end of 1916. "The new arrangement with regard to hides is exactly the arrangement that has been in operation in Australia for some time past. It works very well there, and I am confident that it will work well in New Zealand when matters settle down. The market has been bare for some time past, and in consequence there has been more than the usual demand at the sales that have been held within the last few weeks, with the result that unusually high prices have been reached. The prices are already showing signs of steadying, and when the American exchange gets back to normal, or something near it, as it is in a fair way of doing, a quite reasonable hide market is to be anticipated. Personally I have no doubt that if the bootmakers and tanners arrange to put up prices imports will increase and their businesses will suffer. "I would suggest to Mr. Massey that a public inquiry should be held regarding this matter and the whole question thoroughly ventilated." It has been said that it would pay the people of New Zealand to pension off- all the hands in the bootmaking industry in New Zealand, pro : vided hoots could be imported at, say, 7 J « per cent, duty. While we are hardly prepared to go that far, on account of our desire to foster local industries in this '■•■■.Vited Deminion, nevertheless '- !•< a with the Wellington me' ■ -.. iuotec 1 above that prices a.-<- • -xtortionate, and the position mt >:s a searching inquiry.