Faulty Gumboots

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 63, 17 March 1944, Page 3

Faulty Gumboots

The poor quality of ihe recent issue of gumboots, was brought forward as an urgent matter at yesterday’s meeting of the executive of the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Companies’ Association ir. Palmerston North. Air. J. Moynihan (Shannon) said that out of 50 pairs issued by his company, eight pairs had been returned so far because of leaks and faulty structure. The particular boots were branded “U.5.A.,” but looked more like what the .laps might turn out. “We can get wet feet without having to pay 35s for a gumboot to do so,’’ Mr. Moynihan added. Mr. C. Backhouse, secretary of the National Dairy Associa tion, who attended the meeting later, said the Ministry of Supply had been written to about the complaints and informed that they would be held responsible. Sc far the Ministry of Supply had not re plied. His advice to dairy companies was to collect the faulty boots and hold their, i till advised. The meeting also decided tc complain to the Ministry of Supply and send copies of the letter to Messrs. M. H. Oram and L. Lowry, M.’sP. GUMBOOTS AVAILABLE IN CANADA AUCKLAND, March 15. Thousands of pairs of gumboots arc available in Canada for release to New Zealand but cannot be obtained because, of the Government’s refusal to grant, licences for their importation. It was stated that the gumboots, which would meet the present urgent need of farmers and others, could be marketed at prices lower than was being charged for the limited quantities being supplied on application. A city merchant said that the New Zealand representatives of Canadian rubber houses had all been advised by cablegram that many thousands of pairs of gumboots were available. These boots could be distributed to the public probably at 5s a pair cheaper than those imported under American lend-lease and perhaps at 10s a pair cheaper than was being charged for those manufactured in New Zealand. “The position to-day is that gumboots can only be distributed on a special order from the Department of Agriculture ot the Mines Department,” he said. “These departments are being inundated with applications which they «.re unable to fill. This offer from Canada would prove a very welcome relief to farmers and other users of gumboots, but for some unknown reason permission to import has been refused. Those requiring boots are therefore being denied the opportunity ol taking advantage of the offer.” The quantities available were equal to those obtained from Canada in 1941, he said. They comprised brands that had been used in New Zealand for years, Canada always having been New Zea land’s principal source of supply. Goloshes were also on offer.