THE BOOT INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17095, 30 October 1929, Page 7

THE BOOT INDUSTRY

COMMITTEE’S PROPOSALS INCREASED PROTECTION (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A committee set up by the former Government to make an economic survey of tin' New Zealand boot manufacturing industry has submitted a report to Ihe Hon. J. G. Cobbe,'(Minister of Industries and Commerce, who tabled it in tire House yesterday. The committee comprised four representatives of the manufacturers, four employees, and six Government officials. The latter, for obvious reasons, cannot subscribe to the following recommendation, which the unofficial members unanimously adopted: “That the recommendations made in this report cannot be effective without the safeguard of an additional customs tariff of F> per cent for a period of five years. The granting of this increased tariff would, it is felt, enable manufacturers to adopt the recommendations by giving them the necessary increased out put, and furthermore would enable footwear made in Now Zealand to be sold without an increase in prices.” Tin* recommendations unanimously submitted in the report for the improvement. of the industry are as follows: — (a) That “.payment by results” systems lie installed in factories to reduce unit labor costs. (!>) That, factory layouts be analytically studied, and machinery and equipment rearranged to reduce losl motions between operations to a minimum. (e) That, the routing of orders by a planning clerk be established in factories in order .to deliver work in the correct sequence at Din least, cost. (d) That the method of settling differences between employers and and employees should be improved by payment on results. (e) That an accurate detail costing of the work is essential for manufacturing purposes, and that such methods should be installed. (f) That an experienced consulting management engineer be made available to those in the industry and other industries. (g) That on account of the small size of New Zealand factories compared with their overseas competitors, the question of amalgamation in respect of the small order question and the multiplicity of designs bo considered. (h) That certain manufacturers having been able to operate on a satisfactory paying basis by disposing of their products through retail shops which they control, or mainly supply, it is suggested (that the question of cooperative action between manufacturers be considered, with a view to a reduction of marketing and distributing expenses.

(i) Co-operative action between New Zealand manufacturers in the establishment of a purchasing centre for materials would reduce stocks of materials, particularly foreign leathers, that now frequently become dead stock.

(j) That the question of manufacturers retailing their own products is indicated as a moans of meeting competition from overseas products. The committee is satisfied that New Zealand factories can produce highest grade products.