NO SHOES FOR TODDLERS

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1947, Page 5

NO SHOES FOR TODDLERS

-Pfkss Aksdcidtidh

Plunket Society Concerned At Ciotbiflg Shoriage

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^VE'LLl^.ttfON, May 2. Grave eoncern at the present shdrtag'e' of srfiall ehildrefr's fohtvvdar ahd tlie lack oi ifiaterifii siiitabie fo'r MbieS'5 eifitfiiiig, tvds expressed at the haff-yearfy meetifig in Weilingfon of the Domiiiion (Joufieil of ; the Rlunket Society. u Aftho'iigh ficeriees ttf ifh^'brt c'fiildr en 's f'oo'tweaf rfi b'e tibtainecl when availahility fiasbeeri prave'd;" says a stateinefit i^sited by the cOTffteil; "it ap'peaf's that iii mahy cases lifidue cfelay has bee'ii experienc'6d ifi granting lieences to ifnpoftefs with the result that goods are no lbfiger proCurable. Customs Departifieiit figures ShoHv that the importation 6f s'hoe'sj size's 7 to' 0, lras been maintained while that of sizes 0 to 6' has deeiined. This is a serious matter particularly in tiew of the greatly ificreased birthrate during the p'ast two years. As indicatiofis are ari army of toddlcrs will have to go unshod difriftg the cornmg winter." The- Society ifitends tfi plae'e its case before the fofitwe'af' p'lan'ning eommittee and urgcs that manufacturers be apprised of 'the serious situation and asked wliat eontribtitio'n they are pfepared to make towards rCliewihg the present emergency. COuficil members reported that mothefS-to-be had fpinted in antefiatal clifiics after hdttrs Of trafiipifig stfeets in the fruitless Seafieh for materials for babies' layefteft. Tt was sfated that during the past few months the Society had appf'Oached the Mifiister of lfidilstfies aird Comfiie'rC'e and the Kew Zealand Woollen Mills Owfiers' ASsociation but in spite of strenirouS efforts t o' improve a ve'ry Serious situation an aCute shorfagC existed Of eq't blfinketS, wbife' tlannel and white wool. The Society is sending a deputation to' the Minister of InduStries afid Commerce fequestifig him to' make a ftill intestigatidn of the' •et ions positiqn' fifid askirig him to find a solutiori.