BOOTS; LOCAL & IMPORTED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 5

BOOTS; LOCAL & IMPORTED.

CRY FOR PROTECTION. (By Telegraph.—Pi«b Association.) Auckland, Juno C. Bootmnking in all its aspects was discussed oil Thursday at a conference of tho Auckland Bootmakers' Association. Mr. G. TMurray occupied the chair, and there wero present, in addition to a large number of members of tho body, Messrs. J. 11.- Bradney, R. F. Bollard, A. E. Glover, A. Harris, A. M. Myers, and H. M. Campbell, members of tho Houso of Represcutntivits. In his opening address, Mr. Murray said that he was glad to see so many members present. Apropos of an increase in tho tariff on boots, lie said he could safely say that most of tho members of the association woro in favour of it. They aslccd for legislative assistance to stimulate) tho industry. At present there wero about 10,000 people dependent on the boot industry in the Dominion, and manufacturers had to compelo with poods from the world's markets. Continuing, Mt. Murray said that the New Zealand boot manufacturer paid 150 per cent, moro wages than the country from which most of our footwear was imported. The hours of labour were 52} to 55 per week as against '15 in New Zealand. Female labour was used in England, and liore malo workers woro employed. From a manufacturer's poiut of view, boots were being sold moro cheaply to-day than tlie.v were ten or fifteen years ago. He emphasised the fact that New Zealand work was of a very high standard, and tho latest models wanted corold bo supplied here. The wages paid to employees in tho Dominion wero tho highest in tlie woTld, and yet our manufactures had to competo against an imported article produced under much more favourable conditions. As on indication of tho decay of the industry in the Dominion, lie instanced a request inado by a number of retail dealers that boots mado m Now Zealand should not be branded as,such. Practical demonstration was given by Mr. W. Gilbert, who pulled to pieces an imported shoe. It bad a wooilen shank, paper in tho sole, and was a slioddy example of foot gear generally. A penernl discussion followed oil tho merits of protection under an increased tariff, many of tlio members present speaking on the subject.