Expansion Of State Laundries Criticised

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 20

Expansion Of State Laundries Criticised

The expansion of State laundries was gre&fly detrimental to private operators and the Government’s move to set up prison laundries ww in direct oppomtioa to its pokey of promoting private enterprise, said the retiring president, of the New Zeeland Federation of Launderers’, Dry-cleaners’, and Dyers* (Mr J. P. Luke) at the annual meeting of the association yesterday. The meeting was held in conjunction with the federation conference. Much of the plant installed in new prison laundries such as at Waakune had been imported during the current year. Public money had been used to buy equipment which wouH not be used to its capacity. The plant would be operational for only a few hours each day. compared with commercial plants which were used fully. The industry failed to see bow the Government could justify the installation of such plants in prisons at a time when cocrwnencial operators were finding it difficult to obtain adequate licensing. The industry was “scratching” for the necessary replacement machinery unprocurable in New Zealand. The Government did not have to worry over import licences nor did it have high labour costs.- The industry feit the Government

wias definlMy taking an unfair advantage. From an inataal study of Ifce customs tariff revfew published last week, moat duty rates appearad to have Increased on several plant items used by the three sections of the federation, said the secretary (Mr V. R Moore). “The position is by no means clear as there is provision in the tariff for the conceastoo and entry of poods unprocurable in New Zealand. Eisup to the industry to make certain of entry for goods not made by focal saanufectarers,” he said. The inaugural meeting of the New Zealand Launderers’, Dry-cleaners’ and Dyers’ Industrial Union of Employers was held in conjunction with the annual federation meeting. It was felt that the formation of an employers’ union would help to effect the co-ordination of awards as well as mutters of policy in the induati-y. The mesting agreed the union officers should be the same as the federation officers.