PRICE OF FOOTWEAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15366, 10 November 1920, Page 7

PRICE OF FOOTWEAR.

IMPORTATION FROM AUSTRALIA. CHRISTCHURCH this day. Manufacturers are passing through an anxious tiine owing; to the importation of huge quantities; of Australian footwear, which ai"e underselling the admittedly more substantial Dominion-made article. ' . . . . Owing to a falling-off in orders one large concern in Christchurch has laid off a large number of its hands for this week at. any rate. The manager of. another, concern informed a Sun representative that if his conipany is compelled to pay the latest bonus of the Arbitration Coui-t he will have to put off operatives. He considered that payment of the bonus will .meah a great deal of unemployment in the' boot manufacturing 1 .industry, because I the industry, with strong outside' competition, cannot face a further rise in the- cost, of manufacture. Dominion-made leather has re-, cently .been easing} in price, and last there was a "lurther" drop. A falling market has meant a certain amount of loss to manufacturers, , who have as far as increased toages would permit; been compelled to - {ower prices for foot-, wear. j i I ,A manufacturer jstated that to follow' the trend, he. has had to quit stocks acquired when' leather was dearer at a. : direct loss. This afction, of course, has been assisted by {he presence of the large quantities, of Australian footwear. The . public . is exn >cting ... ■ cheaper foot- ! wear, and has noV been purchasing to any extent. As 'a \ consequence retailers 1 • report an abnorndal slackening in the demand. Retailers fere not buying from the manufacturers.^ ;■ . ■ • | I "Why haven't wf let- the public have the benefit of the slightly-improved buy ing conditions which we are experiencing in instances?' 1 j aid a. retailer. "Well one reason, as far? as I am concerned, is tna,t my turnover Ismiow less, and I , have had to increase my margin of profit in order to belable to carry on." i : That the Austrian- is thus able to secure suph a pronounced advantage was bitterly commented on by manufacturers.--Hcyald Special;