SCHOOLGIRLS’ GLOVES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 2

SCHOOLGIRLS’ GLOVES

Scarcity In City Shops

Mothers who are now fitting out their daughters with uniforms tor the new term are finding schoolgirls’ gloves scarce in Christchurch shops. One department store sales manager who 1 said that his supply of schoolgirls’ gloves was only “reasonably good,” and that he was out of some sizes and colours, added that stocks of women’s fashion gloves were “still very good.” All gloves come under the same import licence, and one departmental manager said that the retail buyers were demanding and the importers were supplying the higher-priced fashion gloves because these were more profitable. Import Cat “The mark-up on the fashion lines is better,” she said. “The shops have, therefore, been spending more of their import allocations oh the prettier all glove imports, of course, are cut to 50 per cent, of the 1956 allocation.” In Auckland, one importer who normally brings in about 600 dozen gloves for school girls at this time of the year has imported only 70 dozen. Another importer said he had told the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord), that fabric gloves were not made in New Zealand, and asked if quotas could be increased. The Minister, he said, replied that he was satisfied that there would be enough gloves to meet the demand. Closed Down One Christchurch glove firm closed down in 1956, it is reported, because it was unable to meet the competition from cheaper overseas gloves which were then being brought into the country in large numbers. Asked if he would enter the glove trade, another Christchurch fancy leather goods manufacturer said: “I wouldn’t have it on my mind. We have to import all the skins, the labour is not sufficiently skilled and the wages are too high. It is just not an economic industry.” He was referring to the finer quality and fashion lines. Industrial and other heavier quality leather gloves are made In New Zealand, and two firms—in Christchurch and Wellington—still make schoolgirls’ gloves: These are on sale locally. Lack of skill and high wage levels were also given as reasons why no fabric gloves are made in New Zealand. ’ The buyer of-one retail shop expects to have more schoolgirls* gloves on sale by March, when this year’s imports begin coming to hand.