FOOTWEAR BEARER

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 4

FOOTWEAR BEARER

RISE IN RAW LEATHERS MANUFACTURERS COMPELLED TO MOVE Following ou the rise afc Homo and in the dominion of leather, the price of., footwear is to be increased. . Within the past few weeks, two 3d rises and one Id rise per pound of sole leather has taken place, while fairly considerable increases in other classes oL .leather are reported. The English .manufacturers have notilied an increase in the costings of their goods, and tho Dunedin manufacturers will also be forced to make another increase. The Incorporated Federated Associations of Boot and Shoe Manufacturers of Great Britain and Ireland have advised dominion importers that they have had under consideration the increase in tho price of raw hides and skins, and the consequent effect upon the price of finished leathers. In order to maintain quality, tho price of footwear had to bo advanced. Buyers are informed that there will be a general revision of costings by boot and shoe manufacturers so that the due relation between manufacturers’ costs and' selling prices shall bo maintained. From an English company of 100 ■years’ standing, a Dunedin firm has .also received the following letter:— [•“The heavy increase in the prices of 1 all kinds of leather is a matter of | common knowledge. While there is no j certainty as to values in the near i future, tho scarcity of hides leaves no room for doubt that for many , months all good leather must be subi htantially dearer than at any time since ■1920. Under tire circumstances, it is impossible to continue making shoes at current , prices : without -sacrificing quality, a course which we cannot accept, We are, therefore, reluctantly, obliged to notify an advance on all dines. We hope that this may cany us through for some time, but there seems to bo a distinct prospect of the price of leather rising still higher early in the year.” Another English firm, whoso foot--wear is a popular brand locally, advises a 5 per cent, advance and 10 per cent, on men’s patent leather boots and shoes. A Dunedin retailer states that the general starting increase is from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, on tho English prices, and further advances will follow almost immediately. All orders now being placed for a famed English brand, for delivery up to -May 31 were subject to the new prices.