SHOES AND SLIPPERS

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 2

SHOES AND SLIPPERS

IMPORTATIONS JUMP ALARMINGLY PROMISED PROTECTION URGENTLY NEEDED Tu a statement issued on Saturday, Air A. E. Mander, of the New Zealand Alanufncturcrs’ Federation, declared that at least two important sections of the footwear manufacturing industry were now seriously affected as a result of having had their production costs increased by recent le; i t ' , .ation ? while t e Government’s eenn'er-bclancing or safeguarding policy had not yet been brought into effect. The sections Oi the industry most severely affected at tlie moment were the manufacturers ot slippers and of children’s shoes. In these fields, said Air Mander, the P 0 . 5 . tion was most disconcerting. While New Zealand manufacturers of slippers and children’s shoes are being forced to “ shorten sail,” importation to-day was increasing by leaps and hounds. i lor instance, on a comparison foi\the single month of August, 1935, and August, 1936, the importation of children s shoes alone from the United Kingdom increased by 35 per cent., end importation from Japan, increased by ncaiJy 100 per cent. ~ Turning to slippers, we find, said i»xr Alander, that in August of last year we imported 156 dozen pairs from the United Kingdom, while in the same month of this year importations were more than four-fold—67o dozen pairs. In August, 1934, we imported 40 dozen pairs of slippers from Australia. In August, 1936, we imported 530 dozen pairs—l 3 times as many. , Total importation from all countries had increased enormously, comparing August of last year with August of this year. In the former month we imported altogether 4,661 dozen pairs ot children’* shoos, while in the corresponding month of this year the numbar rose to 7,387. Slippers imported in August of last year totalled 406 dozen pairs, while in August of this vear the number had risen to 1,210 dozen. The Prime Minister has repeatedly declared, Air Mander added that he is keeping a watch over imports, and warned importers that the Government will take drastic action as soo- as there is evidence that importations are unduly increasing. It looks as though in regard to shoes and sli t vers at least the time has already arnved ior the Government to honour its pledge to the industry in New Zealand