IMPORTATION OF FROCKS

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 6

IMPORTATION OF FROCKS

Serious Damage To Business COMPLAINT BY MAN IN AUCKLAND t ——-— i (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, November 1. Details of the serious damage done to his business and similar businesses by imported garments, mostly frocks from Canada, are contained in a letter which an Auckland manufacturer of clothing has sent to Mr W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata. Largely because of the importation of scores of thousands of frocks from Canada his business in the 12 months just ended was conducted at a loss. The letter stated that in all the history of New Zealand there had never been such a huge flood of imported frocks and coats, particularly frocks, as has been landed here in the last 12 months and the volume of imports showed every tendency to increase. After supplying figures of production in his workrooms in the past twc years, in which the last year just ended showed a serious drop, the manufacturer stated that the lifeblood of the manufacturing business was maintaining and increasing the output Far from his business progressing, as it should in the very much better times New Zealand was enjoying, it was actually sliding back in an alarming way. The most serious consequence of his inability to make sufficient sales to keep his workrooms fully employed was that the wages paid to his workers fci the twelve months just ended exceed the value of the work done plus the overhead, by £695. In the circumstances the question arose of whether operations should be curtailed or whethei the manufacturer should enter into the importing business.

MANUFACTURERS SEVERELY HIT Two years ago Canadian frocks were almost unheard of in this market, the letter continued, but the result of their importation was that all manufacturers making anything but the cheapest garments were severely hit. He knew of at least two manufacturers who were now importing frocks from other countries in order to help out their businesses and he knew of another two firms in Auckland who used to have a considerable number of frocks made in local factories who were now importing their requirements from abroad Canadian frocks were being largely stocked by all wholesale soft-goods warehouses, most of which had their own factories, or factories which had supplied them for years. In addition this season dozens of smaller firms were stocking Canadian frocks which usually confined their activity to the sale of hardware, fancy goods and boots and shoes. No doubt many of such traders would “burn their fingers” but the very fact that they had stocks which must be sold in the market means that damage was done to trade. It was now very definitely a question whether some manufacturers would be able to continue for many wholesalers and retailers had found imported goods s> profitable that there was no shade of doubt they would be looking for still larger supplies in the future unless something was done by the Government to assist local manufacturers.