FACTORIES BUSY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 243, 13 October 1936, Page 5

FACTORIES BUSY.

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY PRESSED. DELAY IX FILLING ORDERS. Indication that New Zealand footwear factories" are working at full pressure was given at a meeting of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association yesterday, when an explanation of the cause of increased footwear imports was received. A firm of footwear retailers wrote regarding a report that had been published to impress 011 the public that the time had arrived for the Government to impose a greater restriction 011 . the imports of slippers and children's shoes. The letter pointed out that the extra imports were almost entirely due to the inability of Dominion manufacturers to supply orders in reasonable time. When this firm was pressing for the delivery of children's shoes 011 order, it had been informed that the delay was brought about solely through buyers purchasing large supplies when the factories decided to increase their prices, and in the space of ten days the factory's travellers had booked sufficient business to keep the factory at full pressure for 10 weeks. At present the factory was fully booked until the middle of Xovember. "Why not ask what is wrong with our costs if Australia and Great Britain can successfully compete 011 our market, instead of trying to induce the Government to afford some protection?" the letter asked. The president, Mr. J. A. C. Allum: It has been exceedingly difficult during the past few months to obtain goods of any description from New Zealand manufacturers. It was decided to forward the letter to the Manufacturers' Federation.