CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 4

CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR

CONCERN AT SHORTAGE PLUNKET SOCIETY MOVES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 3. Grave concern at the present shortage of small children’s footwear 'and the lack of material suitable for babies’ clothing was expressed at the halfyearly meeting in Wellington of the Dominion council of the Plunket Society. . , , “Although licenses to import children’s footwear may be obtained when availability has been proved,” says the statement issued by the council, it appears that in many cases undue delay has been experienced in granting licenses to importers, with the lesult that the goods are no longer procur3l“Customs Department figures show that the importation of shoes of _si?es seven to nine has been maintained, while that of sizes nil to six has declined. This is a serious matter, particularly in view of the greatly increased birthrate during the past two years, as the indications are that the army of toddlers will have to go unshod during the coming winter.” The society intends to place its case before the Footwear Plannng Committee and urge that manufacturers be apprised of the serious situation and asked what contribution they are prepared to make . towards relieving the present emergency. Materials For Layettes Members of the council reported that mothers-to-be bad fainted in ante-natal clinics after hours of tramping the streets in a fruitless search lor materials for babies’ layettes. It was stated that during the past few months the society had approached the Minister of Industries and Commerce and the New Zealand Woollen Mill Owners’ Association, but, despite strenuous efforts to improve the very serious situation, an acute shortage existed of cot blankets, white flannel, and white wool. The society is sending a deputation to the Minister of Industries and Commerce requesting him to make a full investigation of the serious position and asking him to find a solution.