PROTECTION SOUGHT

Evening Star, Issue 19640, 20 August 1927, Page 10

PROTECTION SOUGHT

DOMINION CLOTHING INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES PETITION PARLIAMENT [Fkom Our Parliamentary Reporter,] WELLINGTON, August 19. Asking that the importation ol lowpriced, shoddy material and clothing be prohibited, and that a slight increase in the duty he put ou better class material, such as Avorstcds, over 1,4U0 Ncav Zealand clothing industry employees have petitioned the House of lleprescntatives. Their plea is expressed in tAvenfy-iiiiio petitions, presented by MiPotter (Boskill) to-day. It is pointed out that, during the year ended Marjh 31, 1925. there Avas a decrease in production in the Ncav Zealand Avoollen industry of £157, UUO,' Avhile £2,997,041 worth of clothing is imported, including goods valued at £373,125, from protected countries. If these goods Avere made in New Zealand unemployment Avould be lessened, the petitioners say. During 1925 and 192(1 nearly all our Avoollen mills avoid Avorking short time, and in most eases at a loss. This Avas brought about owing to tho importation at a low price of shoddy material and clothing, nominally cheap, but iu reality expensive by reason of its detective quality, being made partly of cast-off clothing. Higher duties iu Australia have revii-cd the Avhole industry. The petitioners say Hint there arc several dominion mills and factories which may close dorm if relief is not granted. ' Extra duties Avould not increase tho price to tho consumer. Tho experience in Australia has been that reasonably higher duties have resulted in a large increase iu output, Avith a corresponding decrease in overhead expenses, These factors, Avith increased local competition, have resulted in prices being kept at a reasonable figure.