Second Shetland Truck System ReportGuthrie, William
History
Second Shetland Truck System Report
Guthrie, William
Labor law -- Truck system -- History -- England; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
2647. The 30s. at which that shawl would sell in the south would
be the price charged by the retail dealer there?-No. I don't know
what the retail dealer's charge for it would be.
2648. Then the 30s. is your charge for it?-Yes.
2649. That is 3s. 6d. you would have on it?-Yes.
2650. Is not that a profit?-Well; it is not a very heavy one.
2651. But still there is a profit?-Did I ever say that we had no
profit?
2652. I thought you rather made out that the only profit you had
was on the goods you sold?-I am speaking here of the cash value
of the thing. We don't get our wool for barter; the wool costs us
cash
2653. You allow something for interest on the price of the
wool?-Yes. I say that is what I would have to pay for a shawl of
that value in cash if I were buying it, or if I were trying to get it
made.
2654. You would pay 26s. 6d., and you would sell it at 30s.?-
Yes.
2655. Do you not call the 3s. 6d. a profit?-I do; but then in that
case there is nothing else for a profit.
2656. You are supposing that you pay the 26s. 6d. in cash? If you
were paying for the shawl in goods, would you pay 26s. 6d., or
anything more?-If I were paying for it in goods, I would pay 30s.
There might 6d. less or 6d. more; but as far as my experience goes
of this kind of goods, and selling them at a wholesale price, I could
not expect to realize a higher price for them than I pay, taking
discounts and all together.
2657. What is the kind of evidence you are to give me to prove
that there is no profit on a 30s. shawl which you pay for in
goods?-I have no evidence to offer as to that.
2658. Except your trade list?-That would be taking a wide view
of the thing. It would embrace the whole trade. The case I have
given is a special one in contradiction of the statement made,
which was a false one that a Shetland shawl could be made at that
price.
2659. The list enables you to say what you sell the articles for, and
you leave me to find out the price you pay from particular
cases?-Yes; and if an examination of my books would help you
in that, they are open to you. I am also prepared to give you the
names of a number of women who would be able to tell you what
prices they get for their goods.
2660. Can you give me any particular kind of goods which you
think would be a fair test of that?-You may take the winter
shawls, white, brown, and grey, natural colours, and straight
borders.
2661. Do you think that would be a fair test?-I think it would.
2662. But there are no entries in your books which will show at
what price you bought these shawls?-There may be. If a woman
brings in a shawl, and gets so much goods at the time, then the
balance only might be marked down, and that would be no guide
to you; but at other times the whole price is marked.
2663. That is, where there are credit balances with people who
come to you with shawls?-Yes.
2664. Which book will show that?-The day-book or women's
ledger.
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