BOOTS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 114, 17 May 1933, Page 19

BOOTS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Being a boot traveller I know that clients of mine look on this scheme of the Unemployment Board's with a great deal of misgiving and concern. Anyone making hie business pay today docs not altogether find it a bed of roses, and there are some boot retailers.l know of to-day who take less out of their businesses for wages than what is paid to some of their first-class assistants, who do not have the worry and responsibility of any financial trouble other than drawing their salaries. Many retailers to-day sell shoes to clients at far below a fair profit if they know they are in poor circumstances and on relief, being in sympathy with them. Only to-day one client told me he had sold a pair of shoes to a lady in straitened circumstances for 9/11, whereas they cost him 8/11 net, and taking into consideration wages, rent and overhead charges, this pair wag really sold at a lo.ss. This is only one instance out of many 1 could mention. Surely it would be better for the board to subsidise-such instances as this, providing tho purchaser had the necessary authority, and leave the sale of shoes to the retailer, which rightly is his, and incidentally be cheaper to the board, as I am sure, in practically every instance, tho shopkeeper would bo prepared to sacrifice some of his hard-earned profit. BOOT TRAVELLER.