HIDES AND FOOTWEAR.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 173, 8 July 1919, Page 2

HIDES AND FOOTWEAR.

INCONSISTENT PRICES. WHO IS BENEFITING 1 MATTER FOR BOARD OF TRADE. There are many people in the city to-day (says the Auckland Star) who question the statement that the increase in the cost of leather is responsible for the further increase in the price of footwear. Shortly after the outbreak of war the fact that the Government had requisitioned all the hides was used as an argument for an increase in the price of £hi: much needed boot and the equally indispensable shoe. Under this requisition the tanners had the option of purchasing the hides they wanted to keep the industry going at a price fixed bv the Government. Not long since the embargo on the export of th* hides from the Dominion was lifted, the exporters commenced to pick up their pre-war business. _ The prices fell a little till the business was organised when they rose again higher than the requisition price formally fixed by the Government. Recently the "Government again stepned in and plaved an embargo on the export of hides until such hides had been refused by the tanners of the Dominion at a price fixed ' by the authorities. That is to say, - anyone having hides to export must, first ascertain that they are not wanted by anv of the tanners in the i Dominion before n permit to export will be granted. The exporter seeking this permit has to fill in the following requisition : “The above I mentioned goods have been offered I for sale and refused by the tanners’ - representatives appointed by’ the.' Board of Trude at each of the ports of Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. and Dunedin at prices not exceeding those set out in the notification by the Controller-General to: the Customs and published in the i “Gazette.” The said goods are not intended for export by us on behalf i of any tanner carrying on business I in New Zealand or on behalf of anv; 'mrchaser for anv such tanner.” j The tanners thus have the option of : buying whatever is necessary to sunr>lv their wants at the prices fixed. ■ These nriccs as set out. in the, ‘Gazette' are as follows :—Ox hides. ; superior, vn to freezing companies* best standard, 33 to 441 b. 11J per ( lb. ; other first quality hides as above. Id. icss; ox hides, second quality. 11 less: cow hides, first; CTualitv. tin to freezing compan : <;s' best, standard, U- ner lb. ; other fir<t onalitv. lid. ner llx : second quality. lO.’, ner lb. Under” the Government requisition scheme, which operated during the war, the following prices wer e fixed : —Ox hides, first quality. | 451 b.. up to freezing companies’ best j standard. 1/1 per lb. ; other first j quality, 1'- per IK: second quality,11l per lb. : cow hides, first quality., up to freezing companies’ best start-. ’dard, 1 ner lb. : other fo-st qualities - lid. per lb. ; second Qualitv, 161 per lb. " " . | It is pointed out by people in- ; terested that there is practically- no i difference in the price of hides at the , present time and the price of hides; under the Government requisition : scheme, and the question is asked how, therefore, can the price of footwear be increased on the excuse of an increase in the cost of leather?. Several gentlemen to whom the matter was mentioned this morning expressed the opinion that someone was making undue profits out of the business, and that the Government, instead of keeping the prices down ' were really helping them to soar by fixing the price of hides, and at the same time allowing the product ip the form of boots and shoes to. be sold at any price those responsible cared to fix. It was suggested that the Board of Trade might profitably direct its attention to this matter, and go carefully into the whole question from the nrice of the raw material to that of the finished boot. It ’ ; s stated, too, that tanners themselves have admitted that when they Approached the Government all they' desired was that they’ should be given the opnortunitv of buying sufficient hides for their needs at the ruling market price, so that it would not he nossible for exporters to leave them short, nnd that they’ did not anticipate that the Government would kindly fix the price without at ♦.he same time nlacing some restric- . tion on the price of footwear. As I

matters stand now it is contended that thev can simply pick the best of the hides at a price which hardly nays the exnorter, and sell the product at their own nrice. Generally snenking. the feeling anpears to be that there is something radically ■vrorg somewhere, and that the nublic are be’n'T exploited to a degree that is highly unsatisfactory. A FALSE ALARM. ONLY A SMALL INCREASE. According to a Christchurch message publisned last week (says the Otago Daily Times) colonial leather is to advance in price, and, as a result the retail price of men’s boots will increase by about 5/- per pair, with other classes in proportion. Air I W. S. Neill, who is president of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturer.' Association, stated to a Press repr; resentative that the message is misleading, and need not frighten: wearers of boots. There was an ad- I

vance of colonial leather of 2d. per. lb. a month ago, but it has nor, caus- I ed such an increase in boots as that J indicated. The wholesale price will j probably rise by from 1/- to 1,6 per. pair. What that will mean to tiie shop price he cannot say, but he, thinks the figure given in the Christchurch message is no more than the wildest, guessing.