THE PRICE OF BOOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1920, Page 5

THE PRICE OF BOOTS.

increase anticipated. There Ims heen a suggestion that the price of footwear might be reduced in* the near future, owing to heavy importp.t.ons of Australian-made 'boots. a if , reporter who investigated the ma ter found that this opinion is" scouted hy the bootmaker? in Dunedin who, on the contrary, anticipate an increase very shortly.

It is said that nearly all the loots Australia can manufacture at the prescut time are needed for home oonsumption, and further than even ISnglish lirms are placing large orders in Australia. One firm offered to buy the whole outpn, of a large Australian factory at a 50 per eent. advance. fn proof of his disbelief in any immediate prospects of relief from Australia one dealer stated that orders which he had placed ,:i JTovemW and December, of m?i. year were still unfilled. He also made the astonishing statement that a line of l'.nglish-made box calf boots would cost p los a pair landed in New Zealand. The warehouse shelves, he said, were empty, and it was almost impossible to book up a line of any kind. He did not anticipate any drop'in the market for the next 12 months, and thought that only the resumption of manufacturing in Germany and other European countries would* bring relief. In reply to an inquiry as to whether the high price of footwear was having any efiect on the sales, a retailer said that undoubtedly wage-earners were more careful in their buying, nnd were sometimes unable to purchase at one time the two or three pairs of boots that n young family needs. Despite the hi"h price of boots and shoes, he asserted that the retailers were not making undue profits, but he agreed that the Increased price was not entirely attributable to the increased cost of manufacturing. Who is getting the extra money lie could not say. •

It. sopms as if tliorc is room liers for mi interesting. investigation by the Prices Investigation Committee.