MINISTER'S COMMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 5

MINISTER'S COMMENT

^Fresa . Association.)

(By Telegrnph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. - The statement that no industry ia New Zealand Was eubject to the same fluctuations as the boot industry and that some of the big manufacturing flrms that had shortened staff were the higgest importers of boots was made by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, commenting yesterday on allegations that the industry was in a, periious position 'as the result of competition from overseas. "Whenever they can get a b&rgain from another country they buy at oue* and New Zealand becomes the .dumping ground. for these other countries to the detriment of the workers . of the Dominion," said Mr Armstrong. "The flrms that are squealing tho hardest ar© themselves responsihle for the condition they say they are in. Some memberB of the Opposition who are now eayiug that greator protection should he giveu to this iudustry are tho very people who a few years ago advocated that the protection they get now should he taken from them. "New Zealand boot manufacturers at this very moment are at the peak of their production and are employing. the highest number of hands in their history," the Minister declared. Operatives employed by New Zealand boot factories on April 1 this year, he said, totalled 3105, as eompared with 2376 in 1926-27, the year generally/ rega.rded as being the country JB year of greafest boom. Mr Armstrong- said the Labour laws in New Zealand were not responsible for the position that had been repreSented to the country by the Opposition, "And," he asked, "will the Government 's critics say that the men employed in the boot and shoe industry are too well paid? Thi3 Goyernmeot does not think so." The Minister added that he recognised that ' the industry had better protection from countries other than AustraUa, which was in a position to sell boots to-New Zealand at a cbeaper price than those countries that were affeeted by the exchange rate.