SKATING-BOOT IMPORTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27862, 10 January 1956, Page 7

SKATING-BOOT IMPORTS

RESTRICTION MAY BE IMPOSED

New Zealand ice-skaters may not have the same freedom of choice in buying skating boots next season. This warning was given yesterday by a Christchurch, importer, who is still awaiting a decision on an application—made in November—to import English boots. Although they had to • pay a 25 per cent, import duty, and consequently retailed well above New Zea-land-made boots, high-grade English boots still found a ready market in Zealand, the importer said. There were now, he believed, two New Zealand firms manufacturing this specialised type of footwear, and presumably the effect on employment in the local industry was being studied before any licences for 1956 imports were issued. According to his information, no New Zealand importer had yet been granted a licence for this year. He had applied to the Customs Department two months ago for a licence, but was informed that the approval of the Department of Industries and Commerce would have to be obtained. He applied in December to this department, but had not yet been advised of the decision.

If he did not receive advice by about the end of this month, he would be too late with his order—unless the English manufacturer happened to have the necessary stocks —for the boots needed to be landed in New Zealand in March or April to meet the seasonal demand.