COMPULSORILY INCREASED COSTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 13 March 1936, Page 5

COMPULSORILY INCREASED COSTS

EFFECT OF NEW INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION COMPENSATION TARIFF SOUGHT (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. “It appears to be absolutely necessary that, in raising the standard of living for the New Zealand workers, the Government should simultaneously make adjustments in the protective tariff to enable it to protect the industry in spite of its compulsorily increased costs,” said the president, Mr 11. B. Duckworth, in his address to the conference of the Footwear Manufacturers’ Association.

After stating that the position of the industry was uncertain at the present time, Mr Duckworth said no opposition would he raised to the policy of the Government to raise the standard of living of the workers in industry, but at the same time the fact must be faced that the inevitable result would be to increase the costs of production of New Zealand footwear. The new Apprenticeship Bill, the Factories Bill and the new award which would have to provide for a 40-liour week, would add to manufacturing costs and necessitate an increase in prices to the consumer. If the price of imported shoes remained at the existing level while the price of New Zealand shoes was forced up as a result of labour legislation, it was only to be expected that the sales of New Zealand shoes would diminish and the sales of imported shoes would incerase. This would have the very opposite effect to what the Government intended, as it would throw New Zealand workers out of employment. After discussing the implications of tli£ Government’s policy, the conference passed on to consider in detail the adjustments which would he needed to meet the new situation, and also the attitude to be adopted in connection with the forthcoming Apprenticeship Bill, the new Factories Act, and the negotiation of a new award for the industry.