BOOT PRICES INCREASING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 6

BOOT PRICES INCREASING.

SOUTHERN RETAILERS PROTEST. |nv TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

fHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The steady increase in the price of footwear in Christchurch is causing gome comment, and a meeting of the Christchurch Boot Retailers' Association has been called for next week for the purpose of attempting to induce local boot manufacturers to reduce their charges. The retailers say New Zealand boot manufacturers are taking advantage of the practical elimination of outside competition and have raised their prices to an unfair extent. If retailers cannot secure any confessions as the result of next week's meeting they propose to approach the Oovernmcnt in the matter.

I In reference to the complaint a prominent manufacturer has supplied the following information as to the increase that ha? faken place in the cost of materials at the present time as com pared with the cost ruling prior to the outlook of war. The increases, he raid, fully explained the rise in the cost of fnotu-ear. The increases are :— Sole leather, 52 per cent. : chrome Isathe--, 100 per cent.; kip leather, 50 per cent.; glace kid. 150 per cent.; patient colt leather, 140 per cent. ; goo? quality leather lining, 300 per cent.; linen lining, 400 per cent. ; threads, 250 per cent.: eyelets, 250 per cent,; brass rivets, 30 per cent.; machine tacks 300 per cent. ; hand tacks, 300 per cent. ; heel tips, 750 per rent.; plugs, 4(0 per c eut.; machine parts, an average of 300 per cent., ranging from 100 to 900 per cent.; needles, 300 per cent, j wages, on account of the war bonus, 12J per cent.