CLOTHING TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 16

CLOTHING TRADE

IMPORTERS' STATEMENT "■ REPLY TO CRITICISM VISIT TO CITY FACTORIES The Auckland Bureau of Importers stated yesterday that it strongly criticised the statements and actions of the secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, Mr. N. E. Crimp, following a visit by representatives of the bureau to six city factories in an investigation of conditions in the clothing trade. "It was not our intention to 'tell tlio world' which factories had been visited —that would' not have been fair to those people who so kindly answered our inquiries," stated tho bureau. "However, seeing that the Manufacturers' Association has seen fit to 'broadcast' that our first call was to a firm which operates a retail establishment, we are only too happy to agree —having nothing to hide —but nevertheless, we ask whether this has any bearing on the employment question? Position of Firms "In our report, we stated that at the second factory the manager had removed some of his machines in anticipation of a slackening-off of trade. Further, we stated that he could not obtain efficient staff. The sequence was obviously less machines, less staff, less wages.

"We have no recollection that the manager of the third factory informed us that there had been staff reduction. What we did understand was that he had retained his staff by working a 30hour week. Similarly, we were unaware of the fact that the fourth factory had a large part of its work done outside the factory. If such is the case, we are quite willing for Mr. Crimp to enlighten us. Admittedly, the fifth factory did inform us that their denim factory was very slack, but, as denims are not imported into New Zealand, we refrained, in fairness to the firm concerned, from making capital out of an unfortunate condition over which they had no control, and for which the imports were not to blame. Importations Question "We deny that the sixth factory attributed their loss to importations. The manager told us that he had contracted for a large quantity of pyjamas and, owing to the recent clothing award made by the Court of Arbitration, wherein the workers' wages were increased by 5s a week, some loss had been sustained. Regarding this factory, we make two observations. Firstly, pyjamas are not, imported, and therefore there is no competition from overseas; and, secondly, this W£ts the only manufacturer who had not anticipated the increased wages. Furthermore, it seems, extraordinary for an employer to dismiss 40 workers and forthwith advertise for an additional 20. We noticed that his advertisement, which was a very prominent one, was repeated the following day, thereby suggesting that some difficulty was anticipated in securing the required staff. "We repeat that we are anxious and willing to inspect these factories that 'present a more sorrowful picture,' and if someone will advise us where they are to be found we shall immediately call upon them, in company with the secretary of the Manufacturers' Association."