INFANTS’ FOOTWEAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22491, 28 January 1943, Page 3

INFANTS’ FOOTWEAR

More Babies Than Shoes ACUTE SHORTAGE IN TIMARU That there are more babies than ever and fewer shoes for them is the position in Timaru, as ascertained from inquiries made by a "Timaru Herald” representative in several retail shoe shops yesterday. During the past 12 months only four shipments of infants’ shoes arrived in New Zealand, and there will be no more until after the war, according to the statement of one retailer. "It’s the war!” This was one manager’s answer to the question about the present acute shortage. “When the import restrictions were lifted on infants’ shoes, England was unable to manufacture them on anything like pre-war scale. Many of her largest footwear factories were by then producing purely military requirements, and although boots and shoes were being manufactured in New Zealand, our factories had not undertaken the more difficult job of making children’s footwear,” he explained. “The only real shortage is in sizes 1 to 6, worn by children from the crawling age to about two years, and after all infants of that age might well be kept in a play-pen barefooted.” Prohibitive Price "There are a few shoes, if people like to pay for them, but the price is almost prohibitive,” was the opinion of the; manager of another shop. "I am ashamed to ask the price for infants’ shoes. But all imported lines are subject to terrific war risk insurances and freight charges. Still I don’t know how the English manufacturers are able to export as much as they do. Our factories here are doing the best they can, but with essential military contracts to be met, they are unable to cope with the domestic demands. Mothers will agree that there is a greater need for farm boots than for shoes for toddlers, and at present our factories are unable to provide both in sufficient quantities.” Boot polish, or rather the lack of boot polish, is disturbing Timaru shopkeepers even more than the shortage of infants’ shoes. Laces are also in short supply. "As far as 1 can see there is no shortage of leather and no immediate need for wooden soled shoes,” said another manager of a retail shoe business. "No doubt any type of wooden shoe with a sporty effect would command a ready sale, as a novelty. Actually I don’t see how they can be produced in New Zealand, as none of our native woods are suitable.’’