THE BOOT TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19008, 2 November 1923, Page 4

THE BOOT TRADE.

DOMINION MANUFACTURERS. BIG SLUMP AT PRESENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, November 1. At this period of tho year most factories are busy fulfilling substantial orders to cope with the expected trade of Christmas and New Year, but contrary to the general rule, local boot and shoe manufacturers are experiencing a dull time —so dull, in fact, that several of the factories are working their employees short time. This is most unusual, and inquiries made from a prominent member of the trade elicited the information that the same state prevails throughout the dominion, and in Dunedin particularly is the position bad. Asked the reason for the slump, the answer was that there was too much cheap imported footwear, mostly that of women and children, corning to tho dominions. With the high rates of tonnage paid in New Zealand and on Australian goods placed on foreign tariff the locally mad« article cannot compete with the shoddy boot or shoe imported from England. Of course, this does not refer to certain reputable and well-known English brands, which in quality remain just as high as over.