NO INCREASE IN PRICES OF FOOTWEAR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 13

NO INCREASE IN PRICES OF FOOTWEAR

Manufacturers Ready To Give Pledge INDUSTRY OUT TO JUSTIFY TRUST PLACED IN IT A statement that footwear manufacturers in the Dominion would pledge themselves against any increases in prices provided the industry did not have to face any increased costs, was made by Mr. H. B. Duckworth, president of the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Association, at the annual conference of delegates held at Wellington yesterday. The Minister of Industries and Comin prop,. Hon. I). G. Sullivan, was present, and addressed the delegates on matters connected with the industry, dealing more particularly with the responsibility now placed on footwear manufacturers to justify the trust -placed in them by the Government as a result of the recent tariff readjustments. - . . Mr. Duckworth paid a tribute to the Minister for his untiring efforts during the past 12 months to place secondary industries on a more stable footing. As a result of the Government’s action on March 1 in bringing down alterations in the tariff schedule, he said, a trust had been placed in the industry, and the deliberations of the delegates during the conference would decide how far they could go in keeping that trust. Challenge Accepted. “We feel this is a challenge to the industry,” Mr. Duckworth continued. “It will be taken up enthusiastically because it is the result of years of work by the association and by the industry to get the Government to give us an opportunity. We believe we now have that opportunity. Naturally, the eyes of the Government and of the people of the Dominion will be on the industry to see how it responds to the opportunity for which it has clamoured for years. We realise that we have a definite responsibility indeed, but today representatives from every centre in the Dominion where shoes are manufactured are meeting here in Wellington to discuss ideas and schemes to enable them to carry out the trust reposed in them.” Mr.'Duckworth said he had no doubt that' the delegates would during the conference, pledge themselves against any increase in prices, provided the industry did not have to face any increased costs. > Grave Responsibility. Remarking that he was pleased to hear the comment of Mr. Duckworth that manufacturers recognised that the industry had received a challenge to justify itself, Mr. Sullivan said he would go further and say that they were faced with a grave responsibility. Unless the boot manufacturing industry was fully alive and alert to this responsibility, he had not the slightest doubt that the opportunity presented to it would pass away in spite of anything the present or any future Government might do.

If the industry was content to , rest on its oars and take ad van- ( tage of the protection afforded by ? the new tariffs, endeavouring to t get the utmost out of them in a s selfish way regardless of the gen- , eral interests and welfare of the public, nothing was more certain ( than that pressure would.be put ] on the Government to take away j the opportunity. . Such a step would be normal ac- 1 tion, and as one who had advocated < for years giving assistance to second- < ary, as well as primary, industries, be- i lieving that the Dominion would never i realise its destiny until such assistance was an accomplished fact, he urged i them to make the most of the oppor- i tunity, both in their own interests and ; the interests of the public. “I feel it . incumbent on me to say these things without implying a threat of any kind because of the stand I have taken iw support of secondary industries,” continued the Minister, in urging each and every member of the footwear industry, and particularly its leaders, to see that it was placed on the most efficient basis possible in order to ren- : der the best service and provide goods at the most reasonable prices. Suggestions For Betterment. Among suggestions put forward by the Minister to manufacturers to achieve the highest degree of efficiency was research in industry. Compared with overseas, research in industry in New Zealand was merely in its in- , fancy, he said. An enormous amount . could be accomplished in this direc- , tion. Already an encouraging start had been made in relation to tanning. He hoped this would spread. A second . suggestion was in connection with ( standards. By that he meant the standardisation .of the most suitable materials and processes in order to ensure the turning out of the best article and to ensure the best service to the Industry and to the public. A third and important suggestion was cA ordination. The 'Minister said he wished to make it clear that the Government had not approached anyone or had ever suggested that they should come under the Industrial Efficiency Act. The first move must come from industry itself. If a plan were propounded to suit au applicant industry, the consent of the entire industry would be required before it could be put into operation. Such a plan would also have to be in the public interests and not for the exploitation of the public. Reference was made by the Minister to propaganda used against the industry and the Government, following on the announcement of the tariff readjustments. Some of this had gone overseas and had occasioned protests. Mr. Sullivan said he was very pleased to have seen that the matter had been taken up by the High Commissioner, as a result of which a much better response had been received from business men at Home. Mr. Sullivan quoted statistics showing the growth of the industry from 1935-36 to 1936-37, and all-round increases in production and consumption. Everything now rested with the manufacturers in New Zealand to ensuie that the trust reposed in them by the Government had not been. misplaced. In conclusion, Mr. Sullivan said he had every faith in manufacturers to rise equal to the occasion. He paid a tribute to the executive officers of the association, by whom the industry was well served. Officers Elected. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr. H. W. Shove (Auckland) ; vice-president, Mr. D. V. Wilson (Canterbury) ; executive, Messrs. V. H. Dearsley (Auckland, P. Edwards (Wellington). J. East (Canterbury), J. R. Luff (Dunedin). The president reported that the com-

mittee which had been set up under the New Zealand Standards Institute had done valuable work, which, when finalised, would provide the children of New Zealand with footwear built upon the most modern scientific methods and intended to avoid any impediment to the natural development of the foot. Following upon a discussion upon the steps necessary to maintain the most adequate possible service to the community, it was decided to set up a committee to survey the resources and requirements of the industry as a whole, and to report upon the question of cooperation and co-ordination within the industry to the benefit of the consumer. The personnel of the committee is as follows: Messrs. Rocke O’Shea (chairman), Wilson, Shove, Luff and East.