GLARING EXAMPLE OF SHODDY UPHOLSTERY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6902, 7 May 1929, Page 2

GLARING EXAMPLE OF SHODDY UPHOLSTERY

PROTECTING HONEST TRADE. As the result of a number of complaints that furniture manufacturers were using material not up to the standard required by the law, and that in some cases pieces of upholstered furniture were stuffed with remnants in an unsanitary condition, the Auckland Furniture Trades Association decided at a special meeting to approach the Department of Health, requesting the department to investigate tne position, and, if possible, take action against tho offenders. It was stated that members of the association ■were ia no way concerned with the production of tho articles in question, and further that no reputable manufacturer would think of using the class of material which had been complained of. Members of tho association had becu aware for some time that inferior furniture was being placed on the market, and was for tlie n\ost part the product of factories conducted ,by small owners, being the inevitable result of the recent cut-throat, competition, when extensive price-cutting made it necessary to use the most inferior of materials to keep costs at a low icvcl among those who claimed to sell direct to the public and save outside costs. The secretary, Mr. AY. H. Cooke, saia that the association would like to asure the public that members were not connected with the production of the 'suites regarding which the complaints had been made. Members of the . association had been aware for some time that such low-grade upholstery was being produced, and had investigated the position. The president, Air. F. .1 urnell, remarked that any member of the community was able to ini estimate the making of furniture in the factory of any legitimate manufacturer. In a number of cases when suites of furniture were brought to upholsterers to.be recovered it was found that it was impossible to reupholster them on account of the shoddy workmanship in the stuffing and interior. One flagrant example of dishonest workmanship brought under the notice of the association was that of a manufacturer who stuffed a Chesterfield couch with a number of articles of old clothing. When the piece oj: furniture was examined it was found to contain seven pairs of trousers, three coaL, four waistcoats, art overcoat, the tcmains of several shirts, a cushion, a pillow, as well as old newspapers, magazines and rags, all in the filthiest state. The garments were all in a most dilapitated condition, and were such that not even a beggar would wear them. From all appearance, it seemed that they had been recovered from garbage tins. Not only was the stuffing so filthy, but the construction of the. couch itself

was extremely faulty. The required number of springs was missing; where there should have been 81 there were only 25. In each of the chairs making up "the suite there was only one. spring, when nine were required. The interior was stuffed up with coarse pieces of ,700 l and rags.