IMPORTS GIVE CAUSE FOR ALARM

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 13

IMPORTS GIVE CAUSE FOR ALARM

Shoe Manufacturers’ Views

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS AT ANNUAL MEETING

One great difficulty before the footwear industry in New Zealand was that of imports, particularly from the United Kingdom, stated Mr. H. Duckworth, Christchurch, at. the annual meeting of the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Association which was held in Wellington yesterday. Mr. Duckworth, who is president of the association, also stressed the difficulties the industry was facing because of the operation of the Government’s industrial legislation. He said he was not concerned at I lie possibility of an increase in imports from Australia, where manufacturers were having to pay higher wages to their operatives, but he considered that the imports from the United Kingdom, which had increased by 100 per cent, during the five months from January to Muy last: as compared with the same period last year, should be viewed with alarm. The approximate total of bools and shoes imported was 335,000 and, considering that the population of New Zealand was only a million and a half, he said it was obvious what the effect would be on local industry. British Viewpoint.

"Figures are dull things,” stated a recent copy of a British footwear journal which was quoted by Mr. Duckworth, “but sometimes they are worth examination. Here are some that will repay attention. New Zealand, in the first, three mouths of this year, imported from the United Kingdom 204,720 pairs, valued at £72,704. In the corresponding period last year imports were 98,556 pairs, valued at £35,570. ... Is it not time to stop talking of export trade as dead? “That is the position from the British standpoint,” said Mr. Duckworth. “We say that the Labour legislation lias put us off-side in regard to competition. We are forced to work shorter hours, pay higher wages, pay for holidays for all workers, and so on.”

A recent decision of the British Imports Advisory Committee which allowed a drawback of duty on leather from certain foreign countries, as long as the leather was to be used in manufacturing for export purposes, was an important decision as far as New Zealand was concerned, continued Mr. Duckworth. “We have only a2O per cent, tariff protection, while Australia has one infinitely higher. It is most, unfair to manufacturers in this country. We have a British preferential tariff which is supposed to assist the legitimate manufacturer using British material, hut under this arrangement the British manufacturer can import practically the whole of his leather from a foreign country and get a drawback of duty. It is not carrying out the principle of preferential tariff.” Manufacturers’ Fears. The position had certain dangers in regard to the Industrial Efficiency Act, said Mr. Duckworth, unless trade organisations generally presented a united front to any proposals not in the best interests of the industry. Many footwear manufacturers felt that Governments in the past had given so little help that they could continue to operate without the Act. Another point was that there must be a definite feeling of apprehension among manufacturers generally concerning ultimate nationalisation of the industry under the Act. Yesterday’s meeting devoted some time to a discussion with Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, on the question of forming a shoe research association. A tentative agreement was come to. The meeting will continue and conclude to-day.