RETIREMENT OF BUSINESSMAN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24677, 21 September 1945, Page 3

RETIREMENT OF BUSINESSMAN

* SXTY-ONE YEARS IN BOOT TRADE After 61 years in business in Christchurch, Mr Stewart Robinson has sold his retail boot and shoe business in Cashel street. He was associated with his father in a shop now occupied by Stewart, Dawson, Ltd., at the corner of High and Cashel streets, for 15 years before he took over his present premises in Cashel street. Fifty or 60 years ago, boots were imported in trunks, and Mr Stewart recalled yesterday opening up a big importation of kid boots from Germany in the Triangle in High street when the manager of the Bank of New Zealand came along and bought all the line of his size at 16s 6d a pair. Boots of such workmanship were not made to-day. said Mr Robinson, and their relative value now would be from £3 15s to £4 a pair. Women’s evening shoes sold at 3s 6d, men’s working boots from 12s 6d to 14s, men’s hand-sewn boots at 28s, ordinary light-walking welted boots at 17s 6d, boys’ school boots at 8s 6d, and prunella boots from Switzerland were sold as slippers at from 4s 6d to 6s 6d. Shoes were not worn when he first entered the trade, elastic side boots, with laceups being the style. Forty-six years ago, Mr Robinson moved to his present premises in Cashel street, then the main entrance to the city for settlers on the Canterbury Plains. Many bait and livery stables were located in Cashel street, Durham street, and Oxford terrace. Mr Robinson said he had never had any cause to regret his decision to shift from High street.