BRITISH-MADE CLOTHING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25304, 2 October 1947, Page 3

BRITISH-MADE CLOTHING

POSSIBLE IMPORTS TO NEW ZEALAND LOCAL MANUFACTURERS NOT CONSULTED The clothing industry w£s not consulted before the Government said it was willing to consider applications, to import wearing apparel from British sterling countries, and the New Zealand council of the Garment Manufacturers’ Federation has written to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) drawing his attention to “several undesirable and unfair aspects of the importation suggested. “I feel that perhaps the policy about the importation of made-up goods may have changed somewhat since the recent Aid to Britain conference,” said the acting-secretary of the council (Mr A. R. Dellow) in his letter to the Minister. “The British Prime Minister has indicated that the United Kingdom would like to see New Zealand imports, even from Britain, kept to a minimum, and surely this is a reasonable request in view of the fact that most of the essentials of life are in much shorter supply there than they are in New Zealand. Also, it would leave Britain with a greater quantity of manufactured goods for export to hard currency countries.” By dispensing with garment exports for New Zealand, British labour could be freed for occupations more vital to Britain’s economy. “The continuity of material supplies is of paramount importance to our garment industry, which is employing approximately 17.000 persons, many in provincial centres, ’ said the letter. “The present restricted material supplies from Britain, coupled with the virtual cuttingoff of supplies of piece-goods from the United States and Canada, will have a serious effect on the industry. The concentration of imports of raw materials would also assist in keeping down the monetary value of sterling imports.”

“Dumping*’ Of Goods If it was still considered advisable to issue import licences, the council recommended that the Government should consider the possibility of a form of “dumping” out-of-season lines, and said it had happened in the past that goods were offered for sale overseas at the end of a season at reduced prices to avoid a carry-over of stock. The goods were sold in New Zealand at a price lower than that for locallymanufactured goods made for the beginning of the season. ‘lt is most unjust to hold local manufacturers down to an economically low ceiling, and at the same time allow goods to be imported which could be inferior in quality and higher in price than garments which could be made in New Zealand if it were not for the ceiling price restrictions," the letter added. Overseas firms producing for export were not working under any ceiling prices. J Some provision should be made reimported garments to be labelled Mr Dellow said, and he rea u P ?. ir L Of trous ers made in Britain, which he said were poorly made and cost more than most reputable New Zealand manufacturers were allowed by the Price Tribunal. “The ® 5 a \ e no marking to indicate the manufacturer or country of origin ” he added, ‘.and the industry in New Zealand is frequently blamed for pro?X I Pi g^su^tandard S° ods - which, In actual fact, have been imported.”