COST OF FOOTWEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1920, Page 6

COST OF FOOTWEAR.

HIGHER PRICES CERTAIN.; The position brought about by the removal of the embargo on the export of hides, as it affects the boot manufacturers, the retailers, and finally the public, was the subject of a joint statement by Mr. H. Clark, president, and Messrs A. Trenworth and C. W. Coles, members of the Auckland Boot Manufacturers' Association. The statement was as follows: "The first hide sale in Auckland since the Government embargo was 'lifted, which took place on Tuesday, has resulted in the tanners advising the boot and shoe manufacturers that hides have advanced from the former price of Is 2d per lb to Is lid. Consequently the tanners have raised their prices for all qualities of leather as follows :--Sole leather, over 60 per cent.; chrome leather, 80 per cent.; and kip about 60 per cent. "This means that the public will have to pay from 3s fld to 8s more for women's and children's boots and shoes, while the retail price of men's b6ots will be raised from 5s to Ik a pair. The present position would not have occurred for some time to come if freezing companies and hide dealers had not persist" ed in hoarding hides during the last six months. The statement was made recently by the Government boot adviser to the Board of Trade, Mr. C. J. Ward, that one firm in New Zealand possessed hides to the value of over £1,000,000, awaiting the opportunity to export. At the current rate that firm would secure an extra profit of over £500,000. "The tanners also stated that the prices quoted on Tuesday will only hold good for one week. This makes it impossible for manufacturers to take orders for standardised boots, as they cannot obtain the necessary supplies of leather at tie firm price. As a business proposition, therefore, it is considered impossible to put standardised boots on the market without having the "price of leather standardised. "The suggestion by a member of the Auckland Farmers' Union Executive that Australian boots are cheaper than those made here is unfounded. At the present time New Zealand - boots are the cheapest in the world, and 25 per cent, better value than those manufactured in Australia. It is also denied that the New Zealand manufacturers use obsolete machinery, the fact being that the majority of the machines in the Dominion come from the same source as those used in Australia and the United States."