FOOTWEAR SHORTAGE DISCUSSED WITH MINISTER

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 7

FOOTWEAR SHORTAGE DISCUSSED WITH MINISTER

DUNEDIN, June 2C.

The shortage of shoes for young children and of materials for babies' layettes, was discussed with the Minister of Supply (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer), when a deputation from the Plunket Society waited on him in Dunedin recently. The Minister was told that in the opinion of the society the position was so acute that it amounted to a national emergency. An estimate prepared from all sources of information available to the society made it appear that if local production and imports were maintained at the same level as last year, the supply of shoes for children up to five years of age would be less than half their minimum requirements for the year. The deputation added that, as a health organisation, the Flunket Society was deeply concerned over the probable permanent damage to children’s feet which would result from their being forced to wear shoes that had become too small for them.

The depuation also placed before the Minister the society's estimate, based on the birth-rate for 1946, of the quantities of white flannel blankets and white wool which would be required for babies' during the current year. It was estated that a fruitless search for these articles was having a bad psychological effect on expectant mothers. It was pointed out that in addition to pressing for increased production of these articles the Plunket Society had encouraged mothers to make the best use of what was available. Sandals had been recommended for summer wear for children with normal feet, as it was though that if sandals were worn extensively during the summer, shops would be able to build up their shoe stocks for the winter months. Mothers had also been advised that when they were fortunate enough to obtain good shoes of a particular size they should refrain from buying a second pair of identical size. It had been suggested, to the society that if mothers would not object to an occasional dark thread it might be possible to increase the production of white flannel. This suggestion had been conveyed to the Woollen Mill Owners’ Association, ■which had advised that its members had been circularised asking them whether production could be increased on these lines. Factors which it was considered were contributing to the shortages were discussed with the Minister, and the deputation expressed the hope that he would be able to find a solution to the problem, which had engaged the attention of the society and its branches throughout New Zealand during the war, and increasingly over the last two years. The rise in the birth-rate had been so sharp that it was felt that importatations and manufacture on the basis of pre-war years would lag far behind requirements.