BOOT-REPAIRING CHARGES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160733, 20 August 1920, Page 5

BOOT-REPAIRING CHARGES.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. PUBLIC DOING WITHOUT. CHRISTCHURCH, August 15. A serious decline in boot-repairing has caused many of those in the trade to consider whether a reduction should not be made in the charges fixed by the boot repairers in combination. The existing prices are very high. Boots sewn ocst 12s 6d for soling and heeling, and women's 8s 6d, and an extra charge is made for heavy boots. The charges are almost prohibitively high to many people, and .in consequence they arc doing their own mending. ,

A meeting was held last night to consider a reduction in the rates, particularly for small suburban shops, whose special circumstances seemed to warrant a reduction in the ruling city rates. No decision was reached at the meeting, except to set up a committee to report to a future meeting. It is understood that the smaller men, who were expected to favour a reduction, were unexpectedly unfavourable ‘to it.

Rubber soles are said to be revolutionising the boot trade, particularly in regard to repairing. Any man can attach a pair of rubber soles and heels himself. When they are worn out they can be torn off and replaced merely for the cost of the soles. That this is being done the boot trade admit, and it is one of the causes of a probable reduction in prices.