AUSTERITY SOLES FOR MEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22935, 4 July 1944, Page 4

AUSTERITY SOLES FOR MEN

Wartime Footwear (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 3. The Factory Controller (Mr G. A Pascoe) stated to-day that because of a progressive decline in the availability of skilled operatives for the footwear industry certain manufacturing relief measures were being instituted from July 1 under arrangements with the industry by the Factory Controller. Briefly these measures provide for the cessation of finishing work on the soles of all footwear with the exception of women’s, where a one-colour finish will be permitted. A manufacturing process will thus be dispensed with, which will result in the wearing surface of ali shoes being left in their natural leather except in the case of women's footwear, and this should achieve a definite saving of labour. There will be some sacrifice of the sales appearance, but not of wearingqualities, and it is hoped that the public generally will accept the new measure in the same way as with other wartime measures, having the knowledge of the necessity for such action The industry has also been asked to restrict still further the covering of heels with leather or fabric and to use lacquer-sprayed heels instead, wherever practicable. Production will revert to the usual standards for finishing footwear immediately the manpower position justifies this being done