THE PRICE OF LEATHER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3468, 23 April 1920, Page 7

THE PRICE OF LEATHER.

A RUSH FOR PROFITS‘

QUESTIONS BY WIi‘.LFARI‘J

LEAGUE.

It would beef considerable interest to the public it‘ the Board of Trade issued a clear statement showing how the charges on the public for boots have been regulated. At the end of February a. deputation waited upon the Prime Minister in Auckland, when Mr C. A, Watts, Secretary of the Boot opera'tives’ Union, -urged the re-estab-lishment of the embargo on hides. Mr G. W. Coles, maniifacturer, said, “the day after the einbargo on the sale of hides was lifted they were given notice of increased prices for leather.” Mr Massey replied that “the Government was not going to stand that sort of thing.” As showing that Mr Massey recognised the evil of the tanners rusliingn up prices unduly, we find that in :1 statement. ‘issued by him and pub-L lished on ‘March lst,.t.he Prime Minis-I ter says: “Information has reached me that Tanners have already notified :1 big increase in the price of leather. Seeing that leather new on the market must be derived from hides purchased at contnolled; prices under the femibargo, this-is 21 matter denrnnding :11.tention, and I am having it gone ‘into -at once. It is obvious that len-

ther Inal'lufactul-ed from hides pur-

chased at last week's higher values cannot be ready for the market for 21 Isonsiderable time ‘to come, and this matter must be cleared up.” What we wish to know is was the matter cleared up; and if so, what check was put on the demand. for higher pl'iees‘? The public have read that at the February and March saleshprices for hides rise 50 to 100 per cent, and we all know that it was widely reported that boo"rs would have ‘to be raised in price. It is most notable how swi‘ft was the call for iuerease of price to the consumer following the removal of the hides’ embargo, and the high prices realised a't- the sales following. 1 RECENT DECLINE AT SALES. ‘ The "sales of hides this month are

reported as showing a consiaerable deeline Vkcompared with the March rates. As yet we have heard nothing of proposals to reduce fhe price of leather, or that boots will be made cheaper as the result of these latter sales. 01:‘ the Auckland sale. We read: “There was an average ofiering, but the greater proportion of lots were passed in.”

()n this wllolc quos‘rion as it nfiects

the consumers we contend that the p1_1l)lie. is entitled ‘FO zlmow ‘whether stockholders have been allowed to liozml .s'I!]_)pll(?.~' am] so rig the In:lrke'r to secure excessively high prices. Further tliun that. the public should be made aware of the extent: of regulation if any, that is being enforced for the protection of consumers. Are, for instance, leather and boots to be increased in price in confoxriiiity with the prices obtained at the silos of hides in l\lm'eh, and no consideration given to the lower prices given :11: recent sales. We read much of the plea for consideration’ of the cost. cf: replacement. in fixing prices which the consumer has to meet, but how is that to be estimated on lfi:ll'i{Ct priee.< ”wl:-ieh are rising and falling within a brief‘ period of :1, few weeks. Here we have an instance where the runner.»seem to have demanded increased prices ‘for leather with lightning‘ rapidity, on the prospective lI)(11‘0:l>‘(3‘ in price of hides for boots and boot repairing. \Vl1:1t, steps is the Board taking to ensure that on prospective or netual reduction in the sale prices of hidc-.~:, that leather slizill be as speedily realiieed in price. \Ve are l]oi"(.‘2x'])(‘,l"i'S. and «lo not deal with any tet:lmi(:alities of the trmle. but we p're:4ellt this appeal for more in.f'.evrlna'rion because the grezrt body of the public are very much interested in the qnestitms 'rzli.<ed.