BOOTS AT FIXED PRICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17295, 20 October 1919, Page 5

BOOTS AT FIXED PRICES.

BOARD OF TRADE SCHEME.

NO "FANCY" FOOTWEAR..

Some details of the Board of Trace's scheme for the manufacture of "standardised" boots were given in Wellington byMr. C. J. Ward, a boot manufacturer who has been acting as adviser to the board in regard to footwear. The boots to be manufactured according to the Board of Trade specification will be stamped on the waist with the words "Board of Trade," and the maximum; retail price at which they are to be sold will also be indelibly stamped on the boot.

"The boot is to be m;ule of New* Zealand leather, throughout," said Mr. Ward. "It will be so soundly made that, m ordinary circumstances, it should stand repairing several times, and the public, when they see tha brand and the price, can be quite sure that they are not being exploited. The scheme involves the making of strong, sensible boots for the whole of the —good working or school —but in no instance is it proposed to provide anything in the form of fancy footwear, or what are called 'city* boots. "Boys' boots of guaranteed quality will be sold at 18s 6d, and people may rest assured that the inner parts —the foundation of the boot—will be sound- A heavier sort will be sold at 17s 9d. Men's boots sound working boot— be sold at from 26s 9d to 33s —a solidly-made welted boot, that will hold up to repairs. Women's 'Board of Trade'" boots will range from 20s 6d to 29s (la three qualities), well-modelled serviceable boote. Girls'* school boots (sizes 7 to 10) would be sold for 14s 3d, and maids' boqts (fo size 5) for 22s 3d. "All these boots are to be made of chrome hide and glace chrome leather throughout. The calf samples are held up for the present, as there is a tree market for calf-hides, and, as the result, a rise of 25 per cent, took place quite re- [ cently." j Asked what basis of profit the retailer i was to work on in disposing of " Board of Trade" boots. Mr. Ward said his gross profit would be 25 per cent, on returns or ! per cent, on the purchased price I (which amounted to the gams thing). On ' his part the manufacturer was to work on a return of d{ per cent, on his turnlover, whatever-it might be. Mr. Ward was asked how the Board of i Trade's prices could stand with any marked variation in the cost of raw material. His reply was that the prices could remain as they were only so long as fixed prices were maintained for the product of the New Zealand tanners. If there was any " let lip" on the fixed prices of leather, the prices of Board of Trade boots would go by the board at

once. "All the profiteering in footwear which has been done in this country," said Mr. Ward, " was on imported linesthat on colonial boots was absolutely negligible." He added that the Ch--istcharch and Wellington Boot Retailers' Association had agreed to the scheme already. He. as a manufacturer, had applied for a license, and as soon as it was issued he intended to manufacture 2000 pairs for a. start, for he had every confidence in the public's sagacity in buying the article they Know to be sound and, at the same time, free from any extraneous cost. The factories were always to be open to ihe boot inspectors of the" Board of Trade and the cost of materials must be made known to the board's accountant.