THE TARIFF CHANGES

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 2

THE TARIFF CHANGES

BOOT MERCHANTS PROTEST. FOOTWEAR MUST GO UP. ALARM AMONGST RETAILERS. The proposal to put Australia on the third tariff schedule in the matter of leather goods is not viewed with any natisfdctton at all by local boot merchants, and Uie Auckland Boot Retailers' Association has conferred on the subject and wired an emphatic protest, to the Prime Minister on the subject. After the association's meeting a s-tate-ment on the position was made to » "Star" representative, setting forth the retailers' opinions on the subject. The Auckland boot retailer*, the pressman was informed, view With alarm the Government's action in placing Australia in the third schedule of tariff. Auetralisuilnade footwear will now be shut out altogether, which will place something

ke a monopoly in the hands at the local manufacturer. Trade in he United Kingdom is gradually recovering, but unfortunately not sufficiently to meet the present emergency. Footwear from Home still lands too high. Shoe operatives are there still receiving a rate of wages three times that of pre-war rates, and the landing charges ot English footwear make it impossible for us to get ltelp from this quarter iua the time being. As no infants', and only a entail percentage of children's footwear are made in NeW Zealand, w* have for several years been very largely dependent upon supplies from Australia. The relegation of Australia to the third schedule will therefore increase the cost of these good« by 20 per cent, and wtll throw an added burden upon the shoulders of the family man. The great need at the moment ia for cheaper children's footwear, and not dearer. Without competition the local manufacturers will naturally make those lines which pay them best, and children's goods will get very scant attention.

Boot warehouses are already depleted of saleable stocks, whilst retailers have been reducing stocks during the past nine mouths. While it in the dfeeire of retailers to gee the factories of New Zealand fully extended, end it is to their interest that manufacturers' order books be always fi»ll, yet there still remains the fact that the manufacturers* fullest exertions are sufficient only to supply half the needs of the Dominion.

Surplus slocks were held by retailers and wholesalers in the early part of the year, but these have now become depleted. Finatteial «fain@6ncy compelled wholesalers and retailers alike to quit many of their lines at from 20/ to 30/ per pair below actual tost price. The necessity for this is now past, and with & virtual mtuiopoly in the hands of the local manufacturer it ie safe to say that the price of footwear vrfll substantially increase.

Nothing in the nature of dumping hae taken place. Every pair of l>oots that came into New Zealand was the result of a >bon& fide order givfen by a N.Z. importer. It is true that hi? overbought, and was compelled to receive supplies from overseas which had been oft the* ofrdef book for a long period, yet tliia does not in any way constitute dumping. Auckland boot retailers emphatically protest against the action of the Government in placing Australia on the third schedule of tariff without giving *teqttale warning of such a sudden drastic change of fiscal policy.