BOOTS AND SHOES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1913, Page 2

BOOTS AND SHOES

THE RECENT CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. CHRISTCHTJRCIF RETAILERS' VIEWS. - ' (»*- TELKGBAPH— SfrSCttfc TO THE POST.) * CHRI^TCHURCH, This Day. 1 Amongst the bodt and «hoe retail trade the conference called by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Customs, in Wellington to cbnsider the tariff on boots and shoes has created a great deal of interest, but the appointment of Mr. C. E. Good to the conference as a delegate from Ohristchurch retailers caused 1 surprise. The retailers state that they j are as interested in the tariff ha anyone in the trade, and they do not suggest that Mr. Good is unfitted for the position, but their claim is that Mr. Good cannot be- said to represent, them and their opinions. A reporter visited a number of t\\& largest retail shops in the city yesterday, and also some of the smaller shops. Not one of thfe retailers interviewed had been requested to nominate anyone, and none of them were consulted in any way. The Boot Retailers' Association, which existed some years ago, has gone out of existence, but no meeting of retailer* was called to secure any idea of the local opinions. Some of the smaller retailers professed an absolute ignorance of the identity of JMr. Good. One retailer Baid that Mr. Good himself had stated that he had been invited to the conference by the Minister. "Mr. Good," the retailer said, "has had considerable experience in tho retail trade, but it is absurd to regard him as a delegate from us." EVERY. PROSPECT OF A RISE IN PRICE. According to the local retail boot and shoe people, there is every prospect of a rise in prices before long, especially in the_ repair departments. The reason given is the rise in the price of leather and the application by boot repairers for increased wages. The rise in the price of leather has- been steady during the past year, and it is expected that it will go higher up still. One retailer, speaking to a reporter, said that the increased price was plain to anyone who studied the position. The supply of hides was not keeping up to the demand, which was increasing rapidly. Leather was being used in many directions now where a few years ago it was unknown' Ladies' bags used utt a lot of leather, and motor-cars called into requisition an enormous quantity. In' America tho extension of the wheat cultivation had meant that cattle-rearing was being driven back, and with the spread of population and the increase in tho •values of land the cattle ranches were not so profitable as previously. In addition, the hides were not as old. Cattle were killed younger than formerly,, and they were bred and reared under easier conditions. When cattle were roughef and led harder livea the hides were tougher, and consequently were better wearing. The best heavy hides came from South America at present, but tho competition was keen for them in New Zealand. The pick of the hides drew keen competition from foreign buyers, but in many cases the breed of cattle in the Dominion was too fine for really tough leather. At present, too. the American buyers had gone behihd the fellmongers. and were buying direct from the butchers. Options were given over their entire output, and the butchers took advantage of the best terms. In the past the circumstances in New Zealand had not been so good, owing to the power of certain fellmongerers, but the advent of the foreign , buyers had altered the position, and the butchers were having a better time. The Balkan war was another contributing agent. tChroirto leather had been tried as a sub' stitutc for heavier leather on the soles of boots, but chrome was now being used for tho puncture-proof covers on tyres, and its price was strong. Tho price of leather, the retailer said, had advanced twice in .the past nine months, and there was every prospect of further riato. .The retailers #ouki fee

compelled to pass the cost on to the consumers, and it was possible that an increase of somewhere about 10 per cent, would have to be made.