STANDARDISED FOOTWEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1919, Page 7

STANDARDISED FOOTWEAR.

,• ,M| THE GOVERNMENT'S Cfr i-fc TENTIONS. ' 'X i BOJIE LOCAL OPINIONS. " \ When asiked during the past few days by a Daily News' representative, for their opinions as to the Government's scheme for the standardisation of boots and shoes, most of the local tradsem&B professed that they knew very little about the proposal beyond what had appeared in press notices. Tb« applies not only to the retail traders, but also to the local manufacturing houso (which, by the way, is the only business of its kind between Wellington and Auckland) who, up to the present, have had no communication from the Government or the Board of Trade with reference to standardising any line of footwear. An opinion was expressed that the scheme had probably been suggested in order to ease somewhat the conditions created during the war period. but that as the war was practically over, there was a big chance that not much would be heard about it. In contrast with this, however, there was the fact that notwithstanding that the Government had released all hides, the present tendency of prices was in an upward direction. Doubtless the Government's idea was to ensure that an article of standard quality and reliability would be available at a fixed price to people all over tho Dominion. The position to-day, according to one opinion is that a good reliable boot for a working man cannot be purchased under about 30a, and that price was considered beyond what the average man could really afford to pay In consequence nf this, the cheaper article had to be resorted to, and the hand of the worker was continually in his pocket, because, in his enforced acceptance of a lower-priced article, he did not get that durability which was a feature of the dearer boots

So far as can be conjectured, m the lacir of definite information, It is supposed that the Government will merely endeavor to standardise the lines that may be regarded as the working men's requirements, and that there will be no interference with the higher grade lines, which will still be available for those who are prepared to pay the price. Jt was also suggested that the scheme was aimed at discouraging the purchase of the very expensive grades of fancy footwear. chiefly in ladies' lines, by creating a denanf" for a cheaper and more serviceable article. What is essential to the scheme, from the manufacturers' point of view is the standardisation of the hides, as until this is done they can hardly he exppcted to produce footwear to standardised requirements End at fixed prices MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

It will be remembered that a few days ago the 'Minister made a statement to the effect that lie hod just received a report from the Board of Trade which showed that little remains to he done before the scheme can be launched. The board's expert had visited Auckland, Dunerlin and Orisstchurch, ami had tal.i'a a range of samples of footwear, representing the lines it was intended to etandardise The manufacturers, through their associations, had by resolutions expressed their approval of the scheme, a-ifd the retailers also were largely in favor of it- Those members of the public who had seen the exhibitions at Auckland and Dui.edin expressed unanimous approval of the scheme. The Minister stated that th« idea of reliable ioot' wear at prices that were guaranteed to yield only a fair return to the different traders —as arrived at by the Board of Trade—met with merited favor, even when it ■'■•' as pointed out that the selling prices would b 1 * more tin t'lose now obtainable for shoddy boots. Asked as to whether the probability ot peace would affect the scheme, the Minister replied that in view of the step? taken he was strongly of the opinion that the scheme should be gone on with in order to give the public a good, reliable boot at a reasonable price This, in his opinion, was as necessary now as during the var period. He was influenced in his opinior 'by the fact that the English scheme is to he continued, despite the cessation of hostilities. According to the Minister, it is probable that the footwear will not lie on sale to the general publie until towards the end of March.

RETAILERS' VIEWS Several reUuW's were approached for their opinions o!' the proposal, and while none oi them were personally acquainted with the Government's intentions, most of tliein admitted that the idea of placing a good serviceable boot od the market, ut prices which the average man could v, eli afford to pay, was a commendable attempt to in some way reduce the cost of living. One prominent Xew Plymouth tradesman declared himself enthusiastically in favor of such a scheme, and stated he was out himself to assist the working man in any way he could. He stated he had actually tried one line of standardised boots, procured from one of the laj'ge centres, but his experience had not been an altogether happy one Evidently the leather from which the boots had ben made had not been of uniform quality, and half the lino had to be returned- He doubted if prices wuuM remain stablised for very long, as the price of leather was now rioing. even New Zealand stocks showing an inclination to increase in price.

Other opinions expressed -were that there would not be enough in Jiandling standardised lines to make them very attractive to the retailer This prompted a question as to whether, if that proved st), the retailers would be likely to decline to handle such lines, ajid the reply was that as the public became familiar with ' the standardised article, the demand for it would compel tradesmen to stock them, if only for the-purpose of retaining customers. Furthermore one tradesman said tha.t, generally, he thought those in the trade would recognise a moral obligation in the case, and if in the ordinary course of business they were not able to offer ft cheap article they would be bound to assist the working man to the extent of stockin? the standardised lines The manager of another establishment •stated that he doubted if the lines proposed to ho standardised by the Government could l>e turned out any cheaper than some of those produced in the fac t.orie9 of his firm, who even now were able to sell the class of boot visually sought 'bv the average working man at considerably below •prices charged in some other shoos. It was tirobably because of anomalies such as this, suggested the tradesman, that the Government had stepped in with an attempt to establish a uniform price and nrofit Tf o*>e firm ea*> sell a eertnin line nt a •»'••«?» w'»o. «•«•« must be so*n«. wrofr in the nro.-'ess nf manlifl"tuxcj or eke 8»«ieo»e/-\ tuvio-

ordinate profit, when other firms have to charge, as much as from i> per cent to 30 per cent more for au identical article. The manager of this particular business said that prices generally still showed an inclination to increase. His firm, howler, had their prices so well graded that there had been little fluctuation during the past twelve months. Their practice was that if a certain line cost more to produce tlmn permitted Its sale at a fair price they cut it out altogether. The general opinion wna expressed that if the system came to bo adopted the trade would be on tho samo footing throughout the Dominion, and that at least in some linos, the present "cutthroat" policy would be eliminated. Ur.e tradesman niiggcsted that as tha Government proposed standardising boots, they should also similarly treat other lines of clothing.

PROSPECTS FOR THE PUTUIiU. In a statement made by Mr 0. J. Ward, secretary to tho Wellington Boot Manufacturers' Association, he says: "In my opinion, hoots and shoes will not recede in price for a considerable period, and are likely to reach still higher prices in the near future. Leather of all the more desirable sorts is limited in supply, if not actually short, and prices are rising the world over. Then consider the demand in Europe for leather, and all other articles that go to the manufacture of boots and shoes. In the face of this demand a further rise is inevitable. As a matter of fact, many lines have risen since the cessation of hostilities Wages, too, have risen, and rightly so in view of the decreasing value of the sovereign—the lust advance being 20 per cent-, less a bonus of 5 per cent,., making a real advance of 15 per cent- In material, many lines have advanced to three and four times the pre-war values.

Boots made with calf uppers will undoubtedly advance. Heavy leather for the eulea of men's boots will be in short supply owing to the older cattle having been killed; and this is accentuated in New Zealand by the breed of dairy cattle most favored at the present time being on tlie small side and having much thinner hides than some of the breeds formerly raised. High as prices are in New Zealand, the comparison with England and the United States of America is in our favor In men's work, in particular, the price asked by the New Zealand boot manufacturer 13 in many instances less than in the twe countries mentioned. The local supply will improve, as the cessation of the manufacture of military boots and shoes will allow the three manufactures to put some eighty thousand pairs on the market during the current year. "The final reason for expecting further advances h the economic one in common with aU other goods, viz., the inflation of the currency by the issue of paper money. This demand; the immediate attenti'.m of the responsible authorities. The immense creation of money during the war period, and the lessened production of commodities forbids the hope of receding prices for some time to come Money is too plentiful without the corresponding increase in production of goods-"