RUSH FOR BOOTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3426, 4 March 1920, Page 5

RUSH FOR BOOTS.

New Zealand Times.) . 1 The high prices ‘realised at the Welt; lington hide sales last week were very; clearly accepted by the public as an intimation that ‘a cox-responding in? crease in the cost_of boots and shoes would shortly follow, and that they; would do well to purchase before the rise came whatever footwear} thegq might require. On Tuesday, for ex« ample, a customer, going early in the‘ afternoon to one of the houses whichl stocks standardised boots and shoes, found the shopkeeper was right out; of one size of the best quality of tggg “standard” boot. The place W 213 Eluite full of customers, and our in« formant was told that that had been: the case for a day Ur two past. There; had been a tremendous rush for all kinds of boots. The firm in question! has not put up its price, and the Shop-4 keeper stated that they did not know: exactly what the advance would be, but they had been given hints to the‘ efi'ect that it would be from 50 to 60, percent. Some three dozen boxes ofi boots of the particular size wanted had been sold out that very morning. .

‘lnquiries showed that the rush for footwear had been general throughout‘ the city ‘and suburbs, that large numbers of boots and shoes had been sold, and that the stock of average sizes in the cheaper and more popular lines had been very largely reduced in com sequence.

Some shops, it was found, had al~ ready advanced their prices, but. it Was explained that this had been done to conserve the stocks more greatly in demand, and not with any idea of exploiting the public. In the case of the large business houses, it was stated it would take no little time to recost. all the stocli in hand, which was considered ample tornieet normal demand. New Zeafand, however, would have- to trust mainly to her own. manufacturers for footwear, since the outside supplies, whether from England, America, or Australia, were not likely ‘to be large at the present time. But the New Zealand factories turned out large numbers of boots and shoes; and, while the lifting of the embargo would no doubt accentuate the position, gfood leather should still be obtainable in the Dominion. As yet. the, tanners have not yet raised the price. of leather, and it is understood that a, quantity of English sole leather is now en route to New Zealand.