A PAIR OF BOOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1921, Page 5

A PAIR OF BOOTS.

PROFITEERING ALLEGED. AUCKLAND CASE CONTINUED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Further evidence for the defence in the case in which Ernest E. Leaning, bootmaker, Queen Street, is charged with having sold a pair of boots at a price considered unreasonably high, namely £4 19s 6d, was heard before Mr. Cutten, S.M., in the Court to-day. Herbert Dearsley, a boot manufacturer of 25 years’ standing in Auckland, said he would defendant as a high-class surgical expert. There was no basis of comparison between the cost of boots made by defendant and those made in a factory. Witness could not assess the cost of boots made by defendant because the system of manufacture were so different.

Duncan John Campbell, bootmaker, of Vulcan Lane, said he had been in business about 30 years. He manufactured boots on the factory principle, but in the handsewn style. Defendant made boots on the “knee” style, which was slow and costly as compared with the factory methods. Witness had been making special boats for defendant by taking the measurements and ordering parts of the boots to be made in other factories. The flat rate for these boots was £4 4s. His system was quicker than that employed Ijy defendant and it approached the factory system. After further evidence the case was adjourned.