§ 79. Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make a statement on the recent negotiations he has had with the footwear industry on prices and utility supplies; and whether he is satisfied that utility footwear continues to keep to its past high standard.
§ Mr. RhodesYes, Sir. As a result of consultations with this industry, we have decided that, in view of the ample supplies of footwear now available, and the return of competitive conditions to the 1015 trade, the present method of price control of utility footwear should be greatly simplified. Instead of a detailed prescription of maximum prices and margins for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, the control will be operated by reference to a much simpler schedule of ceiling prices for boots and shoes on sale to the public.
There will be increases in the maximum prices at present permitted for the more expensive types of utility footwear so as to facilitate the introduction of lower prices for the cheaper types and to allow for the recent rises in the cost of raw materials.
These new arrangements should result in early reductions of retail prices of many lines of footwear. The present standards of quality for utility footwear production will be retained.
§ Mr. Henry StraussWho thought of the expression "ceiling prices for utility footwear"?