FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 23880, 9 May 1941, Page 6

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

COMPLETE RATIONALISATION ASSURED WAR GALL MAY EXTEND SCOPE [Peu United Press Association.] NELSON, May 9. “ The recently-established Footwear Industry Commiiteo has lost no time in getting to work,” said the Minister of industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, to-day. “ The setting up of this committee marks an epoch in the history of the footwear industry in this country. The industry decided by a majority vote in favour of being licensed under the Industrial Efficiency Act and to work under a plan submitted for the approval ot the industry. An industrial committee was set up to carry out the plan. It consists of representatives of the State (drawn from the Departments of Laboui and the industries of Commerce), representatives of the workers employed in the industry, and representatives of the employers, who are the licensees. The members of the committee are Messrs E. W. Bridgeus (chairman), C. AV. Coles, J. A. East, (1. L. Luidley, G. F. Greive, L. J. M'Donakl, S. C. A. Ringrose, C. A. Watts, and Mr S. J. Collins has been appointed secretary.” The Minister explained that he had addressed the committee concerning future activities. The rationalisation of tlie industrv was very necessary to-day, as a war measure, and there would probably have to be a good deal more of it in the near future to enable the country to stand up to the economic conditions imposed by war, but industries functioning under the Industrial Efficiency Act and operating under n plan directed' by an industrial committee upon which employers, workers, and the State were represented, could largely carry out the job themselves as a self-governing entity. The principal objective was "to serve the public interest, and the committee must work in a way that would reconcile public interest "with the welfare of all engaged in the industry. There were important problems affecting New Zealand’s war effort also that could be dealt with by the committee, such as the supply of footwear overseas, not only to the New Zealand troops, which was already being done, but also to the troops of other Governments in the British Commonwealth. In this particular matter the committee would require to work in conjunction with the Factory Controller.