SHODDY UPHOLSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 17

SHODDY UPHOLSTERY.

MANUFACTURERS PROTEST*

PROTECTING HONEST TRADE.

EVILS OF PRICE-CUTTING.

As the result, of a number of complaints that furniture manufacturers vero using material not up to the standard required by tho law, and that in somo cases pieces of upholstered furnituro wero stuffed with remnants in an unsanitary condition, tho Auckland Furnituro Trades Association decided at a special meeting to approach tho Department of Health, requesting tho department to investigate tho position, and, if possible, take action against the offenders.

It was stated that members of tho association wero in no way concerned with tho production of the articles in question, and further that no reputable manufacturer would think of using tho class of material which had been complained of. Members of the association had been aware for some time that inferior furnituro was being placed on tho market, and was for the most part tho product of factories conducted by small owners* being tho inevitable result of tho recent cutthroat competition, when extensive pricecutting made it necessary to use the most inferior of materials to keep costs at a low level among those who claimed to sell direct to tho public, and savo outside cost s.

The secretary, Mr. W. H. Cooko, said that the association would like to assure the public that members were not connected with tho production of the suites regarding which the complaints had been made. Members of the association had been awaro for some timo that such lowgrado upholstery was being produced, and had investigated the position. The president, Mr. F. Furnell, remarked that any member of the community was able to investigate tho making of furniture in the factory of any legitimato 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 pieco of furniture was examined it was found to contain seven pairs of trousers, three coats, four waistcoats, an overcoat, the remains 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 dilapidated condition, and were such that not even a beggar would wear them. From all appearances, it seemed that they had been recovered from garbage tins. Not only was tho stuffing so filthy, but the construction. of tho couch itself was extremely faulty. Tho required number of springs was missing; where there should havo been 81 there were only 25. In each of the chairs making up the suit" there was only one spring,, when nine were required. The interior was stuffed up with coarse pieces of wool and rags.