LEATHER AND BOOTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 207, 27 May 1920, Page 6

LEATHER AND BOOTS

NEW AUSTRALIAN DUTIES ON IMPORTED EOOTWEAB.

Among thoso who returned from Australia on Monday by tho Ulimaroa was Mr. C. J. Ward, the vice-president of the Wellington Industrial Association, and a well-known local hoot manufacturer. Mr Ward, in the course of a brief chat, mentioned a big campaign in favour of locally-manufactured goods which had been launched in Australia, by the Manufacturers' Association, aided by tho Commonwealth and State Governments. There had been several spurts with the same object in view previously, but tins appeared to be the real thing, and would have an appreciable effect on imports-tions-at least, of such goods as could bo produced conveniently within the Lornmonwcallh. The Commonwealth Government for instance, had imposed a new Customs tariff on imported footwear, which should give local manufacturers a chance. The new tariff, initiated only a fortnight ago, imposed a duty of .40. por cent, (on invoice value) on British boots mid shoes, and of 50 por cent, on baots and shoes from any other country. Tho New Zealand tariff on British boots and shoes ratified from 6d. to Is. (id. per pair, plus 15 per cent, ad valorem, and on boots and shoes from any other country an extra 7J per cent, ad valorem, so it would be's&cti that Australia, was hitting the importer hard to help along tho local manufacturer. As far ns tho shoe trade in Australia was concerned, said Mr. Ward, the manufacturers had just about caught, un to the peak demand, and were breathing a little moro freely. That had not affected prices so far; indeed, prices inclined to harden. There were reports about the price of Mdos decreasing, but that actually was not the case. The prico of some hides had receded, certainly, but that reference wus to drought hides, which wero light. The prices of good hides were as high as over in Australia, and yet no foreign buyers had operated on tho Australian markets for six weeks past. The preponderance or hides offering wcro from drought-stricken districts (where in many cases tho cattle had been killed for their hides alone), nnd these wcro often very light. Foreign buyers do net want light hides.