FOOTWEAR PRICE LEVELS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 12

FOOTWEAR PRICE LEVELS

* ASSURANCE GIVEN BY MANUFACTURERS ALTERABLE ONLY BY CHANGED CONDITIONS “An assurance was given by the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation that, other things being equal, prices would remain stable and I cannot see any reason for manufacturers departing from that,” said Mr A. H. Shanks, secretary to Suckling Bros., Ltd., yesterday, when his attention was drawn by “The Press” to a statement that footwear retailers in Auckland were waiting with much interest to see how New Zealand manufacturers fulfilled their undertakings, under the new tariff, to make adequate quantities of the various lineswhich now receive special protection end to keep prices down to their present level. If leather prices rose, the effect would be v/orld wide, and any adjustment in costs by the Dominion manufacturers would be offset against the comparative rise in the price of English footwear or the goods manufactured in other countries, said Mr Shanks.

“No increases have taken place so far, and wo do not intend—and our information is that others have no intention —to raise prices unless conditions of manufacture, governed by the price of leather and wage conditions, are altered,” he said. The Auckland Complaint

An Auckland man with long experience in the trade, told the “New Zealand Herald” on Monday that while he had every hope that the manufacturers would carry out the promise not to raise prices, a very recent occurrence had made him a littia doubtful, A particular factory had quoted him two lines of men’s shoes, and one line of men’s boots at Is, Is 3d and Is 6d a pair respectively above previous prices. Wljen he questioned the increases, the reply was that a better grade of sole-leather was being used. To this he answered that the previous grade had been quite satisfactory, and as he had had no complaints he would be quite content if no change were made. “The matter rests there at present)” said the retailer, “but I shall be interested to see what happens. I should like to think that I can rely on the public assurances that the manufacturers have given.”