THE BOOT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 22 February 1915, Page 2

THE BOOT TRADE.

HOW IT IS AFFECTED BY THE WAR. The average working man viewed with somu anxiety a few weeks ago the further rise in the price of footwear. The war was Warned for the rise in price, but in what special direction it was to blam ( . it was not 'generally known. This point has been given liglit in r(sent letters received in New Zealand from the more important manufacturers in England, and it will be found that the rise has been due to four principal events. Firstly, owing to the shutting out of supplies from the Continent; secondly, owing to the financial condition brought about by the way; thirdly, and most important, to the demand for military boots for tlie English, French, Belgian and other armies, such as the Greek, Servian, and Russian; fourthly, owing to the number of workpeople who have been called to the colors, and the difficulty of filling their places with cap&.blc hands. As regards the first cause of the rise, the cutting off of Continental supplies, box and willow calf was imported to England from Germany and trimmings and heels were imported from France. It is said Germany was the only place which manufacturers could look to for real good willow calf. The most important cause of the rise in the market is tlie demand for army boots. One firm of not ( . states that the War Office insists upon having half its power for production on army boots. LAn International Board has been inaugurated in London to deal with the matter of supplies. Another firm has written: "To show you the position—a colonel came in a day or two ago and wanted 300,000 pairs of ordinary army boots, and 10,001) pairs of riding boots, 10ft. high. ,Th e first question was: 'Are you making any stout, hoots for anybody but the British or French Army? If so, I intend to commandeer them. I either intend to have the boots or the leather you have suitable.' " The army authorities are having to pay three or four shillings more than they did a few months ago, and the price is likely to keep on rising. "Instead of harboring feelings of anxiety regarding prices, %ve in New Zealand should be congratulated on getting our orders executed at all," says the management of a wellknown New Zealand firm.