DRAPERS' PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 10

DRAPERS' PARLIAMENT

THEIR VIEWS ON THE TARIFF

ALIEN TRADERS A MENACE

The annual conference o£ the New Zealand Drapers and Clothiers' Federation will open in Christchurch next week. Proceedings will last three days, and the interests of the trade in the whole Dpminion will be fully represented. Subjects for discussion will be varied, and those of general public interest will include the repetition of "Empire Trade" week, and consideration of desirable amendments to the Shops and Offices Act and representations to be made to the Government in connection therewith. The conference will be asked to set up a committee consisting of one representative of each industrial district together with the president, and members of the Advisory Board, to consider and report to the conference, "(1) As to whether the retailers .should initiate proceedings for a new Dominion Betail Shop Assistants Award. (2). As to the proposals to be made by the retailers for incorporation in a new award." AT EXPENSE OF THE MAJORITY. The new tariff will receive attention, and a proposal is made to point out to the Government "the futility of imposing heavy protective duties on imports and that the tariff revision be confined to the straightening out of anomalies at present existing with as little interference as possible with the tariff now obtaining."

Another proposal will be "that this association considers that in view of the present Tariff Commission, the time is opportune to draw attention to the support given to the secondary industries by the Customs duties, and consider that, rather than an increase, the conference should support a reduction in tariffs. The support of many-indus-tries by 'Customs duties' is at the expense of a majority of the public." GOODS ON "APPRO." The vexed question pf customers mainly ladies who cannot""quite make up, their minds"—receiving goods' on approval will also be considered. A proposal is to be made to the conference '' that members ,of the federation revert to making a charge to> iown customers who. ask the privilege of having goods sent out on approbation, as was done during the war period." Discounts and getting in 'the money will figure in the proceedings. It will be proposed that "it be a recommendation to the trade that acaounts exceeding three moifchs be considered as overdue, and that aec -. its beyond this period be pressed for settlement.". Consideration will be given to the existing custom ' f granting special discounts to Civil Service and other associations; and that an effort should be made to secure the service of summonses in country districts by registered post. A suggestion will be considered to the effect that the Government be requested to introduce legislation to enable vendors of goods to charge purchasers with interest at the then current bank rate on accounts that shall not be paid on-or before the due date for payment of such accounts." •

The Wellington section of the trade is perturbed at' the increase in/alien traders, who specialise in silks and "silk stockings. It will be proposed "that alien trading has grown to such an extent, particularly in silks, hosiery, etc., that the problem should be fully considered by this conference with a view to the federation taking some steps to effectively deal with this menace to the trade." • . .

MANTJFACTUBEBS AND BETAILERS.

Woollen manufacturers supplying goods. to large purchasers (other than merchants) will come in for attention, for it will'be proposed "that this "conference desires to enter an emphatic protest at the action of some of the woollen mills in supplying hospitals and similar institutions, also hotels, direct from th mills to the detriment of the retailer, and that ?. request be formulated in the direction of asking that this practice should be discontinued."

Other topics for discussion will be the making available to advertisers the audited figures as to the circulation of newspapers < and advertising journals; also the advisability of instituting a system of staff training. A flat.Tate on American imports to the four chief ports of the Dominion will be urged of the Union Steam Ship Company.