STANDARD BOOTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 8

STANDARD BOOTS

TO BE ON SALE iN MARCH ' t . V ■ BOARD OF TRADE DECISION The Hon, W. D-' 5. Mac Donald, ActingPresideut of the Hoard of Trade, wade a statement yesterday in - l-egiiKt, to - the scheme for the standardisation of footwear. /The Minister stated that he had just received ft report from the Board of Trade on the matter, which showed that .little now remains to be done before the scheme can be launched, The board's expert had .visited Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch, and had taken a range of samples of footwear, representing the lines it was intended to standardise. The manufacturers, through their associations, had by expressed their approval of the scheme, and the retailers also wero .largely in favour, of it. Those members of the public who had seen the exhibition at Auckland and Dunedin expressed unanimous approval of •- tlie scheme. The Minister stated that the idea of . reliable footwear at prices that were, guaranteed to yield only a fair return to'the difleroht tra'ders (as arrived at by the Board' of Trade) met with marked favour, oven'when it was pointed out Unit the selling prices-would be moro than those flow obtainable for shoddy boots. Although many boob are 'now stamped "all leather" and actually contain all Ipii tlier experience had bliowji, said tho Minister, that, there is nothing bo shoddy in footwear 1 as shoddy leafher. As to whether tho probability of peace would affect: the"-'scheme, the Minister said that in view of the steps taken ho was strongly/'of the opinloir that the scheme should be gone on with, in order tp give the public a' eood reliable boot; at reasonable pricc. ' 'This, in his opinion, is as necessary now* as-during Ihe war period. He was influenced in his opinion by the. fact that the English scheme is to be 'continued despite the cessation of hostilities.

Eoursets of samples of the standnnffootwear, comprisingmen's, women's, boys', girls' and moulds' boots and shoes, were almost ready:for issue to the manufacturers in each of the four centres, so that manufacturers will be in « position immediately to advise the Hoard of Trade as to which 'of'the samples they are prepared manufacture. As soon as this information is received, the board will be in a position to fix retail prices, and will instruct manufacturers to'manufacture nnd . distribute? Hie'boots to retailers. The Minister staled that in yiew of the quantity of boots that require to be manufactured, and in order to avoid undue preference to any retailer by giving him supplies before his competitors, some little time will have to bo allowed to the manufacturers 'to make up stocks. Tt is therefore probable that the footwear will not bo 011 sale to the general public until towards the end of March.