THE BOOT TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 299, 14 June 1912, Page 8

THE BOOT TRADE

STARTLING STATEMENTS. Christchurch, Thursday. Giving evidence before the Cost of Living Commission on Wednesday, & boot machine operator named William Williams, vice-president of the New Zealand Federated Boot Trade Workers, stated that the wages cost of a boot that sold for 20s djd not exceed Is 6d. He had seen exhibited in a retailer'* window boots which bore a ticket describing them as "Clark's celebrated; 22b 6d per pair." On examining them he found them to be of local manufacture, and to have cost 10s 6d. There was no local firm named Clark. The New Zealand worker, in eight hours' work, produced more than the British worker in ten hours. The British worker received ,30s per week, and the New Zealand worker 46s 6d. To the chairman. There was one New Zealand factory which produced good work, but stamped their boots "Brockley," "Philadelphia," "British-made," or "Commonwealth," for no other purpose than the exploitation of the public. The purchasers, seeing that the boots were branded and appeared to be high-grade American.or British boots, were prepared to pay the prices asked, whereas the boots were made in a New Zealand factory. The manufacturers in so stamping their goods were out for business, but it meant that no matter how the New Zealand worker exerted himself he got no credit. Instead of the boot manufacturer being the dominant factor In the boot trp.de, the retailers were the dominant factor. M. J. O'Brien, boot manufacturer, stated that the previous witness'* estimate of the cost of labor (which did not include stitching) was not quite accurate. A boot, the wholesale price of winch was 15s, would cost for benching twelve years n<;o from 10s 10d to 2s, and for finishing Is !5d to Is Bd, or an aver- , age of 3s (id, instead of 4s. The price nowadays would be about 3a 3d, benching being the same and finishing Is to Is 2d. There was no demand for cheap boots. The New Zealand manufacturer* eould compete with the best imported , article. Referring to the brands put on New Zealand boots, mentioned by the previous witness, he stated that this was a demand created by the public and by the retailer. I ======