AUSTRALIAN FOOTWEAR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 156, 20 July 1937, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN FOOTWEAR

N.Z. Factories Unable Toi Compete INCREASE IN IMPORTS "The demand for New Zealand-made shoes and boots has so fallen away that even with the reduced hours of work South Island factories are not working full time," said Mr H. B. Duekworth, president of the Dominion Footwear Trades Association, speaking in Christchurch. His was one instance of varying effects which several leading manufacturers claimed had followed the recent labour legislation in New Zealand. Mr Duekworth said that the shoe trada was hy no means husy. There was a defiuite deeline in the demand, and at the same time the valiie and quantifey of imports had risen. Shoe imports the first five months of the year had shown a heavy xncrease. Their invoice value — value in the country of origin — ways £27,973, exelusive of small ehoes i'rom sizes 0 to 9, which eaine in dutyfree. These figures showed an inerease of approxim&teiy ""00 per cent, over the imports for the same period last year, which were valued at £14,699. Jn quantity also, there was an equally large inerease, the imports numbering ahout 47,000 pairs. Wage Rates Increased. Wa©e rates in the industry had not only been increased to the 1931 level, hut had been carried still higher, and there was now approximately a 30 per cent, inerease in labour costs. The X->rices of raw material and cost of th^ 40-hour week also affected prices. Ihe Kew Zealand manufacturers would hold their annuaJ meeting in Wellington on July 28, and there was a proposal that the meeting should arrange * deputation to the Government. The woollen manufacturing companiaa are at the end of their busy season, aad any effect of recent legislation may aet he apparent until prices are quoted for the next season, in~about thrce months' time. Even so, Mr W. R, Car■Mtk ■*'»nager of the Kaiapoi Woollen

Manufacturing Company, Ltd., said that there was an animated demand for Australian goods. This demand was growing, because the Australians did not work under such restrictions as the Kew Zealand factories did, and their prices were attraetive. "Overtime Not Eoonomio." Mr A. M. Hollander, chairman of the soft goods trade group in Christchurch, said that there was a heavy demand upon soft goods manufacturers, but it was not economic for them to work overtime at the rates prescribed and their output was restricted. Mancfacturers were behind with their orders, but could not alford to work overtime to catch up. Similarly, in the canister-making industry, there has been a heavy demand which cannot he met economically by overtime work. Mr B. J. Masters, manager of Gadsden and Company, Ltd., said that if his firm stopped taking new business now it would have two or three months' work in hand fulfilling orders. The biscuit manufacturers here made their own tins, so that their industry was not as in the Kortb Island, affected by the difficulties of the canister-makers. Kevertheless, the freezing works placed large orders and the l'aetory was busy meeting these, which were given preference. It was not economic to work overtime, and the industry was just meeting the crders as it could.