Shoe firm puts boot into importing rules

Press, 21 April 1979, Page 21

Shoe firm puts boot into importing rules

PA Wellington Import-licensing requirements hold the key to the availability of top-flight shoes for runners in this country, according to the general manager of M. O’Brien and Company, Ltd, Mr G. Sturgess. Commenting on criticism about the poor standard of running shoes made recently by Dr S. Woodhouse, a Dunedin heart specialist and sports-medicine expert, Mr Sturgess said the answer lay in abandoning controls that restricted the importation of components, required for the specialist running shoes. “O’Brien’s have the expertise and equipment to make almost any sports shoe available in the international Adidas range to satisfy, the requirements of most New Zealanders,” he said. (O’Brien’s is the New Zealand agent for the German firm of Adidas.) “But the inability to procure specialist components, mainly soles, means shoes have to be imported at higher prices because of duty and the small quantities involved,” said Mr Sturgess.

“On the other hand retailers who hold import licences mainly import the popular commercial types at the expense of the specialist running shoe.” Mr Sturgess said he would be approaching the Government to point out the range of new overseas development and the great variety of soles needed to cater for many different sports codes. “The greater availability of components would in turn promote better health and reduce the possibility of injury highlighted by Dr Woodhouse. I hope the Government will appreciate that these restrictions must be relaxed for the ultimate well-being of our sports people. By that 1 do not mean opening up the importation of gimmicky sportswear. On the contary athletes and sportsmen and women in general must be more astute in their buying and not be lulled into purchasing low-priced footwear being passed off as sports shoes. "There are many tricks for the unwary purchaser. I am concerned about statements emanating from sports medicine experts that New Zea-

land runners are not being well served. “To some extent they are right, but it is time the Federation of Sports Medicine did something positive and lent weight to supporting New Zealand companies who have the ability to manufacture the right shoe for all sports codes,” Mr Sturgess said.