Footwear Duties

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 64, 17 March 1938, Page 6

Footwear Duties

Questions in Commons FACTORY COSTS UP United Press Assoclatlon—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright LONDON, March 15. When replying to questions in the House of Commons, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald said that New Zealand had increased her footwear duties in order to check tho unemployment caused by increased imports at a time when New Zealand production costs were rising. Mr. W. A. Burke (Labour): Is it not a fact that British production costs have also increased, for which reason the position remains substantially the same between England aud New Zealand? Mr. MacDonald : I understand that fresh representations are being made or that point, and that tLe British Government is keeping in touch with British manufacturers. REASON FOR INCREASE MR. JORDAN ADMITS RISING COSTS LONDON, March J 5. Following tho protest against the New Zealand boot tariff by certain Lancashire manufacturers, the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr. W. J. Jordan) met representatives of Lancashire and other constituencies interested iu boot manufacture and explained that owing partly to the introduction of the 40 hour week and to improved wages the cost of production iu New Zealand had increased by 20 per cent. There Lad been a rise in imports between J 935 and 1937 of 33,000 dozen pairs of boots and shoes, valued at £126,000, resulting in unemployment and the working of short time in New Zealand. Air. Jordan emphasised New Zealand’s desire for friendliness with Britain, adding: “The tax was not to exclude British manufactures but. to maintain the normal flow of trade.'* The meeting agreed that Mr. Jordan had shown that, far from suffering from a prohibitive tariff, British manufacturers were enjoying a preference of is compared with Australian manufacturers and foreigners. It was also agreed that the duty was not unreasonable regarding the particular class of footwear in connection with which the protest was made, as it is manufactured locally.