LEATHER AND SUBSTITUTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 46, 23 February 1929, Page 4

LEATHER AND SUBSTITUTES.

High prices for leather caused by the shortage of !iidcs throughout the world in 1027 led to the employment of substitutes for leather in the manufacture of footwear. The popularity of rubber and crepe rubber soles increased rapidly in America and Europe. This led to strong opposition from leather traders, and much has been written in trade journals "against the employment of substitutes. Australian tanners are now taking an interest in the matter, and they have decided to urge the advantages of the use of genuine leather for boots an.l shoes. The advantages! claimed for rubber are that it is waterproof, wears well, and forms a comfortable sole. Leather merchants contend that substitutes are undesirable for health reasons. A recent issue, of the "Leather World," of London, contains articles on the subject, stating that leather is a conductor of heat, and therefore provides the necessary porous covering for the feet. Rubber, a non-conductor, checks the "respiration" from the soles of the feet, and does not permit of their cooling naturally. The journal states that many users; are reverting to leather, the merits or rubber and leather as soles for boots and shoe* will receive attention from the public, and by its' decision the manufacturer will have to abide.