HIDES AND BOOTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 147, 17 March 1920, Page 8

HIDES AND BOOTS

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION

HON. W. NOSWORTHY'S COMMENT

"It should be made perfectly clear that no officer of the Agricultural Department, chief or otherwise, is in the least degrco antagonistic to the secondary industries," said the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Noswortliy) yesterday, in reply to statements made b.v Mr. C. J. Ward at a meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association. Mr. .Ward suggested that tho_ Agricultural Department had shown prejudice against the secondary industries in its dealings with hides," and ho also denied that Australia, using New Zealand hides, could undersell the boot manufacturers of the Dominion. He quoted figures to show how the increase in the price of hides was going to cnuso a rise in the price of boots, and suggested that hides had been hoarded Woro the schedule prices were lifted. "I do not propose to discuss the question of standard boots beyond remarking that these were talked about for many months before they finally made their appearance just at the time the embargo on hides was lifted," added the Minister. "The allegations regarding the hoarding of hides have already been dealt with, but it may be reiterated that hides were withheld ifrom sale because sellers were profoundly dissatisfied with the previously existing state of affairs, and believed that the general public was not getting its full measure of benefit from the embargo. The position was finally emphasised by the complete cessation of auction sales from December onwards. All this constitutes a very different thing from hoarding. "Mr. Ward has gone fully into the question of the cost of production of boots under the new arrangements. I havo no intention of criticising his statement nt the moment. The figurfs require analysis by an expert, but it is not clear why an advance in the prico of leather necessitates increased cost 'being shown in respect of every other item, including the manufacturer's and the retailer's profits. The interests of the boot purchaser under the new order of thingswill not be overlooked by tho Government. "Now as to tho import of boots from Australia and the export of New Zealand hides to the Commonwealth, the figures have l)een published already, and need not be repeated in deta.il. Australia's embargo on the export of Hides was lifted as long ago as May of last vear, nnd, as was shown in the detailed statement, the Commonwealth imported 115,791 hides nnd 41,02.1 calfskins, valued at <£288,97G ond .{22.081 respectively.' from New Zealand during the whole of 1019. It is not suggested that individual hides have been followed up and shown to have been converted into leather and afterwards into boots which have conio back io New Zealand; but tho fact-remains that we have exported to Australia hides bought at current market values and have imported from Australia a large quantity of boots, which have been able to compete with boots of our own manufacture, and this after paying dutv as follows:— Boys' nnd girls', 6d. per pair, plus 15 per cent, ad valorem; youths' and women's, Is. per pair, plus 15 per cent, ad valorem; men's, Is. fid. per pair, plus 15 per cent, ad valorem. In addition to these duties, an extra primage duty of 1 per conk, is levied. "Mr. Ward says that tho statement, that Australian-made boots were sold cheaner thnn New Zealand-made boots in the local market is inaccurate. Reliable evidence was obtained that in October last, when the embargo was in full operation, men's boots and ladies' shoes, somewhat superior to the New Zealand manufactured article, were landed in this country nt a lower price .than the importer had to pay for the New Zenland article. The respective prices of two clashes of boots shown were: Australian, 2(1?.; New Zealand,_ 28s. Instances are also known in which retail purchasers of boots since the New Tear have boutht Australian boots choaper than the New Zealand product, tin* choice -being made not on account of the lower cost, but because the purchaser liked ihe imported boot better. "At the hides conference held in .Tanuary of this year, the following statement was made: 'There is no doubt there nre certain boots, Australian boots, sold today cheaper than New Zealand boots.' No delegate from interests questioned this statement. It is regrettable that circumstances should have necessitated that apnarent criticism of the New Zealand trader, but misconceptions must not be allowed to exist. Tt would be an excellent thing for the Dominion if we could be entirely independent of boot importations, but we cannot be so at present, and in the meantime the best course in the interests of all concerned must be followed." ■ ■

A NEW ZEALAND RECORD

Bv Telegraph—Prep« 'Anßoet.aHon. Napier, March Ifi. At the Napier, hides sale prices real''s«d were: Freezer ox 20J<1.; buteher'nx, 2fl'd.; cows. 24}<1.; calfskins, 51d; (a New Zealand record).