IMPORTATION OF FOOTWEAR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22202, 20 September 1937, Page 11

IMPORTATION OF FOOTWEAR

♦ EFFECT OF CHEAP GOODS CONDEMNED BOOT REPAIRERS SEEK STRICTER. REGULATION "Much alarm has been felt at the recent meetings held in Dunedin, Invercargill, Timaru, and Christchurch of the Otago and Southland District Council and the Canterbury and South Canterbury District Council of the Dominion Federation of Boot Traders' Associations at the alarming increase of the importation of cheap and shoddy footwear," says a statement issued by the federation. "The opinion wfj.s expressed that steps should be taken by the Government to put into operation the existing machinery of the footwear regulations by enforcing the stamping of all footwear according to regulations. "The meetings were called for the purpose of having the anomalies of the boot repairing trade removed. At the present time the boot repairing trade has no recognition as an industrial unit. It is not governed by the Shops and Offices Act, and there is no award covering the whole of the Dominion for employees. There are at present three distinct awards, for Canterbury. Auckland, and Dunedin (with a 12-mile radius). Outside of these areas the wages are governed by the Factories Act. The federation is seeking, with the co-operation of the employees' unions, to have a special Dominion award for the repairing section of the boot and shoe industry. It is further seeking to protect the industry against the influx of unskilled men by protection through a proposed enactment for the registration of boot and shoe repairers. , Effect of Unskilled Labour "At the present time there are approximately 3000 repairers in the Dominion, and the annual output is approximately £1,250,000. In spite of this there is no Dominion award, and a complete dearth of apprentices. The effect of the influx of unskilled labour is detrimental to the general standard of health, and statistics prove that there is an alarming increase in the malformation of the feet. With the elimination of unskilled workmen in the future, and the registration of all boot and shoe repairers and apprentices, this would do much to check this increase in malformation. Much could be done to improve the general standard of health of the public by a proper system of repairing footwear, but this can only be done through the training of practical men on a productive basis. "Further alarm was expressed at the increase in the importation of leather, the tanners claiming that the increased costs of production have more than offset the rate of exchange which acted as a protective tariff. "Detrimental to Our Own Industries" "Roughly repaired footwear has been responsible for the increased sales of cheap footwear, and as the majority of cheap footwear is imported, it is very detrimental to our own manufacturing industries. This, coupled with the increased importation of leather, is being seriously felt by the manufacturing and tanning industries of this country, resulting in the putting off of factory hands and tanning employees. Indications are that there is no .possibility of a reduction in the price of leather, and this will be reflected in the sustained higher prices of footwear and repairs for a considerable period. Due to more prosperous conditions in other countries, there has been an increased demand for leather, and other industries are absorbing a large quantity of leather. In contrast with the increased demand for hides, there has only been a proportionally small increase in the number of cattle. Therefore the higher j

prices are bound to be maintained for a considerable time. "The federation is making arrangements for a health campaign, pointing out the danger of cheap footwear, which is neither conducive to good health or economy, and a return to better footwear and better repairs will mean a general improvement in the standard of health of the people of this country, and will be a protection for the Dominion's industries."