THE PEOPLE'S BOOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 74, 14 August 1912, Page 4

THE PEOPLE'S BOOTS.

WHAT TIIEY MEAN. AX INTERESTING DISCUSSION. MAX tIF ACT URKRS WANT DUTY INCREASED. A CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED. ('By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Mr. W. H. Murray, of Auckland, waited on the Minister of Customs, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, to-day, as a deputation from what he described as the largest section of the boot .manufacturers in Auckland. He explained that the Boot Manufacturers' Association consisted of two factions: —(1) The manufacturing importer, and (2) the manufacturer pure and simple. , Mr. Fisher: You are representing the manufacturers pure and simple? Mr. Murray: "Yes, with the emphasis on the simple." He stated that for some time the manufacturers were con-

yincftd that the duty should 1 be increased. In 1011 over £301,000 worth of boots were imported into New Zealand, this being £70,000 in excess ol the importations for the previous year. That showed that they were not creating the demand for the colonial article that they should. It did not mean that the colonial article was not as good. The manufacturers affirmed that it was better than the imported boot from the point of view of stability of wear and value. He maintained that boots and silioes were cheaper to-day than they were some years ago. The public wer» asking for a higher standard of boot, and the manufacturer claimed that when the present tariff was passed he had not got a fair ''look in." The better class of article was allowed to come in on a low <lnty, while the duty on shoddy was phenomenal. The main object of his visit was to request the Minister that he should call a conference (during the recess) of a representative of both classes of manufacturers and: the retailers, and listen to all the arguments. Mr. Fisher: The employees will Lave to be represented, too. Mr. Murray: Yes; let them l>e represented also. If we cannot hold up our end of t'ho stick in the circumstances we will at all events feel that we'haYe had a fair run. CONFERENCE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. The Minister said that he would promise to meet before Christmas three representatives of the manufacturers, three representatives of the importing agents, and three representatives of the employees. One very important feature they would have to face, and' he gave Mr. Murray fair warning, was this: that the people in New Zealand were paying more in duty on imported goods than they were paying in wages. That was so, was it not? Mr. Murray said that he could not give a precise answer at the moment. Mr. Fisher, continuing, said that this question would have to be faced'. Were the people of New Zealand to be so heavily taxed that they paid the same in duty as was paid in wages to the whole of the employees engaged in the industry? BILL TO BRAND SHODDY.

This season, he said, lie would l introduce in Parliament a Trades Description Bill, which would compel all importations containing shoddy to be accompanied with a certificate to that effect. The Government was determined that the people were not going to be hoodwinked any longer by purchasing brown paper boots with leather on the outside. He would communicate with the various parties interested in the proposed' conference, and then the whole matter could, be discussed. EQUALITY OF CONDITIONS.

Mr. Murray said that,, presuming Mr. Fisher's statement in regard to wages was correct, the manufacturers would not mind if they were under free trade to-morrow, so long as they could manufacture under the same conditions as those countries where the imported goods camo from. The Minister: You are not asking for that?

Mr. Murray: We would sooner have it than the present conditions. The Minister: You 'have no chanciv at all of getting that. LOCAL RESTRICTIONS.

Mr. Murray pointed out that the New Zealand manufacturers were paying 100 per cent, higher wages than their Home rivals. If they had to pay higher wages than their competitors then they should be provided with the wherewithal to pay those wages. It was not fair to look to the manufacturers to provide employment if they were not given the necessary protection to carry on their industry. The trouble at the present time was that the, manufacturers, by force of circumstances, were obliged to manufacture too few of too many lines. SPECIALISATION POSSIBLE. The Minister: The fact of the matter is that so far as the boot trade is concerned the population does not warrant specialisation? Mr. Murray: No; but it would stand specialisation if there was a greater demand. If a tariff brought down tomorrow shut out the importations, the manufacturer could increase the wages, and the cost of the article to the consumer would not be advanced one farthing. The Minister: What is it you are asking for? An increase in the tariff or a change in the incidence of the duty?

Mr. Murray: We a&k for an increase. Ho added that the manufacturers would sooner 'have a straight out ad valorem entry than anything else. He quoted the wages paid in New Zealand to leading hands, and compared them with those paid in England. Mr. Fisher: The whole substance of your request is an increase in the tariff? Is that so?

Mr. Hurray: Yes. ABOUT SHODDY. The Minister: Can you answer me this question: Do any manufacturers in New Zealand make slioddy goods? Mr. Murray: Yes; some of them do at the request of the retailer. The retailer is perpetually asking, "Can't you make this sixpence cheaper?" The Minister: A bit of brown paper does the trick? Mr. Murray added that the manufacturer had to cut his prices to get lines, and "something had to come out of thu boot." The Minister: What effect would it have on the trade if all boots made in New Zealand 'had to be certified as made of leather? Mr. Murray: I think it would be a good thin«. The people would get better value for their money.

Mr. Fihlier: And at the same time it would stop the importation of shoddy?

Mr. Murray: Yes; I think it would be a move in a. good direction. It was pointed out by Mr. Fisher that he had made a mistake in saving that the duty on boots exceeded the wages paid to'tliose engaged in the industry. What lie had intended to refer to was tho value of the importations as exceeding the wages paid.

Arrangements will be made to hold the suggested conference in due course.