The Dominion FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 1913. PROTECTING THE CONSUMER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 6

The Dominion FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 1913. PROTECTING THE CONSUMER.

——S 1 It is one of tho unfortunate results of the stress of modern competition in manufacturing industry that some of those- engaged in it have resorted to unscrupulous methods in order to keep pace with their business Despite all tho improvements which have taken place in the arts of production •'shoddy" has become a familiar term in connection with the supply of many staple articles which are in large demand as common necessaries and. legions of unfortunate consumers have learned by bitter experience that the purchase of cheap •'shoddy'" is a most unprofitable investment. . The deceptions of dishonest trading have been reduced to such a fine art, however, that it is not always easy for consumers to know what they are buying, and the State is carrying out no more than its plain duty to the general public in doing what it can by legal enactment to circumvent the wile's of tho dishonest trader, Something has already been accomplished in this direction in New Zealand, notably through the medium of the Sale of Food and Druga Act, which provides for the branding or labelling of commodities with a true description. An important addition was made to this class of legislation during the session of Parliament which has just ended by the passage of the Footwear Regulation Act. This measure,, which was introduced by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, provides that all boots and shoes not mado of leather must be branded with a true description of the materials which they contain. In explaining the object of his Bill to the House Mr. Fisher stated that he had caused inquiries to be made by the Collectors of Customs in various parts of New Zealand as-to the existence or otherwise of shoddy footwear, Tho resultant reports showed that booh composed partly of paper were being both manufactured and sold in the Dominion, though to what extent the Minister did not definitely indicate.

In one instance a Customs officer inspected a pair of women's shoes priccd at 7s. Gel, The shoes- were composed partly of paper and the proprietor of the snop in which the.v were exposed for sale admitted that they would be dearer, even at ss. Od., than a genuine article at 10b. Gd., but said that women would not pay the price and thai all the shops did the same thing. Mr. Fisher rightly contended that the sale of sueli goods was an injustice to men-and women and especially to children, . since boots of the. brown paper variety arc a distinct menace to health, particularly when they are worn by children. The Minister was able to inform the House that very few- ofthese paper-adulteralc-d ; \boots were manufactured in New Zealand. When the local manufacturer did use paper, instead of honest leather, he ad.dcd... it was done under compulsion''-'in" order to oompate with the imported tutidfl. Iti js jguuwaiWfj to Jm&sjao

any "circumstances uvhich 'would" jus-.tify.--manufactm'<M\s..'-Jn'> .resorting to .micli'ishabby > trlcks/'Vahd. the Minis-> that ii should be tnef (il;j-.'ct.of Uu; Legislature to «.-x- ---> M!i'-i; i <i f' jia pc r ami similar. ..manufacture ■■' of I.Hiiits.aiu! Kiioos. 'niust eomino!i;l general approval: - ilicfurii'vleaving the ,'•'^^!,U lc:,^^nss a hope :t.iat;;the?;:Hpuse. would- eventually:' bo .asked pass. a,;.ni!ieh>hiove"Cxtehded 'said, aiid^dr.ugs;;fr:tliejSineasiire ■ before, theni 'deali-.'with booi;,' ; S;but ■.'' l^i^<^9s; ,^her,.thii)gs^toJ '\vhiehUhe : s ;M?(SkP I'll"! ci P i ci; of,;]) yeven;t i ng ■'■ f rand .upon§tlie^i)«blic[ might#well .be/ap-' ■ plied. ...The s Footwea'r- Regulation --Act will; '.coiiie;int<r'operation..on July ]. 1911.. It is obviously a measure which OJ' ill iini.the'' interests' l'°l^te'i?i , H!®i a P^..-! I ?|uall}; inlthc- in-* ;tei ; ests;6fshonest manufacturers" and traders. ;It js'..:the .poorest, people :in ..thefcomninnity •' most * severely. -.from.. having;,'shoddy -.articles foisted ..upon them, a; fact. which, supplies an additional reason,. if . one .were, needed, .f0r...-doing;cverythinir possible..-tp' suppress 'dishonest, trading. The Footwear Regulation Act should-.atkast da, people the service of ■■ enabling ..them •to understand ■clearly'what, they are getting when they buy-boots and shoes. : There are many more ambitious statutes which have 'not had a" more' .worthy object.