SHOE STANDARDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1943, Page 3

SHOE STANDARDS

VIEWS OF TRADE FEDERATION EXPLANATION OF RECENT RESOLUTION. NEED OF TECHNICAL CLASSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A statement signed by the president (Mr F. Jones) and secretary (Mr G. . Shields), of the Dominion Federation of the Boot Trades Association, says the main object of the resolution passed at the annual conference was not, as re-. j ported, an indictment of the footwear manufacturers of New Zealand generally. The object was rather to draw attention to the urgent need of diverting labour and materials towards the manufacture of utility types of footwear, and, as a war measure, substantially reducing or cutting out altogether the manufacture of non-essential types, such as ultra-fashion lines. By doing this it might be possible to increase the output of children’s footwear, of which there was an acute shortage, and to conserve both labour and materials, both of which are in short supply, and to manufacture footwear which is at least repairable. It is agreed that the standard specifications are a step in the right direction, but nevertheless, it is added: “These specifications are applicable only to standard types of utility footwear and it still leaves a very wide scope for a continuation of the manufacture of types of footwear which are neither essential nor desirable at the moment.” The statement says that a further resolution passed was to the effect that the authorities be approached with the object of instituting classes in technical schools for tuition in bespoke bootmaking and footwear repairing, but for such training to be confined to apprentices of the trade only. There was an urgent need for apprentices, especially for bespoke making, and this need would be increased as the war proceeded. In order that a continued flow of skilled tradesmen might be provided, combined technical and practical training was strongly advocated by the federation.