CHEAP FOOTWEAR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1932, Page 2

CHEAP FOOTWEAR

IMPORTS FROM JAPAN. INVESTIGATIONS PROMISED. WELLINGTON, October 14. A promise that an investigation would be made into the question of importation of cheap footwear from Japan, the Malay States and 'th<i Straits Settlement was made' by Mr Forbes to-night in reply to representations by a deputation of the New Zealand Boot. Employees’ Federation and the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Association. Mr Jones, M P (Dunedin South), who introduced the deputation, said they were anxious to bring under the Prime Minister’s notice the growing importation of canvas rubber shoes and complete rubber shoes. Importation from Japan had increased from 2112 dozen pairs (valued at £1387) in 1030 to 10,743 dozen pairs (£7507) in 1931, and 21,958 dozen pairs (£11,933) for the first nine months of 1932. There had been corresponding increases in imports from the. Malay States and Straits Settlements. The duty was 50 per cent on imports from Japan and 25 per cent on the others, but since the average prices of the •goods were only lid (Japanese) and Is 6d (Malayan), the duty did not make much difference. Retail prices were so cheap that working men were induced to wear the shoes in the summer months.

Menace to the Industry. Mr 1 C. 'A. Watts, secretary of the Employees’ Federation, kaid the Japanese shoe was a splendid imitation of that imported from Canada and was so- much cheaper that Canada would soon lose the market. The importations hurt not only the operatives whom he represented, but also the manufacturers, the tanning industry and the farmers.

Mr East, president of the Boot Manufacturers’ Association, declared that these cheap shoes were a menace to the industry, which, although it had lately concentrated on making footwear suitable for summer wear, was unable to compete with Japan’s cheap labour. Some of the rubber shoes were such good imitations of leather that they would probably come to be worn in the minter months also, ruining the winter trade. “No civilised country could face competition of this sort,” said the Prime Minister. “One of our big problems is in regard to these excessively low-priced goods. Formerly we always had been able to deal with these matters by tariffs, but it seems that these goods are beyond even tariffs.” He mentioned several other examples of “staggeringly low prices” at which Japanese goods were being sold, and promised to discuss the whole matter with the Comptroller of Customs.

OTTAWA AGREEMENT. MANUFACTURER’S VfEWS. WELLINGTON, October 14. “While it is early to say just what effect the Ottawa agreement will have on manufacturing industries, I think New Zealand as a whole will be well satisfied with the results,’’ said Mr Frank Campbell, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association. “The delegates should be congratulated on the work done. The preference granted to Dominion produce should be of great assistance to primary producers, and insofar as it does thi s it will be reflected in the general prosperity of the country which all 'will share.” Mr Campbell said he was satisfied that New Zealand industries would be able to produce information that would convince an impartial tribunal that they

were efficiently conducted and not in any way over-protected. The removal of the surtax would be a decided advantage to importers, but the surtax never had been regarded by manufacturers as a measure of protection. There was great danger that any increased trade would go not to Great Britain but to Australia. New Zealand manufacturers would urge very strongly an immediate investigation into the Customs arrangements between New Zealand and Australia. The percentage of British material required to qualify for preference should be increased to ?5. So far as one could judge now, the arrangements should not cause manufacturers any uneasiness, and should give them greater confidence to go forward and pursue a policy of developing wellbalanced industries.

Regret is expressed by the Customs Committee of the Wellington Importers’ Association that there evidently will be a considerable delay in effecting a general reduction of the tariff, also that in the statements* made in the House no reference, was made to approaching Australia to secure a revision of the present trade agreement. Tt was decided to urge the Government to adopt for duty purposes the par conversion rate of exchange between gold and sterling countries.