FARMERS OBJECT.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 13 April 1938, Page 3

FARMERS OBJECT.

TO INCREASED , PRICES.

r Imported Goods.

PROTEST MEETING HELD.

RISE IN FOOTWEAR COSTS.

[By Telegraph.—Press Association! AUCKLAND, April 12.

Specific instances of the efiect oI tne

recent revision of the tariff on the cost of various lines of imported footwear were quoted by Mr. E. E. Kitchener, on behalf of the Bureau of Importer's, at a meeting of farmer's at East Taihaki on Monday night. Mr. P. G. Wyman presided over an attendance of about 100 people, including farmers from neighbouring districts. The meeting expressed in resolutions its opposition to tariff increases on British goods.

Mr. Kitchener said that the revised tariff had hit the importer so hard that it had become almost a prohibitive tax on many lines of footwear. He said that in children’s lilies,'sizes up to nine still came in free, but on size 10 there was a tax of 3/ : a pair. The new duty shut out cheap lines of men's and women’s sliofes, and v children’s shoes, above size nine. .7 Two Examples Quoted. A type of footwear known to the trade as “raidettes,” which was not made in New Zealand, 'nd\v carried' & duty of 7/4 a pair, he -continued. He had been selling this line at 6/11. Small gum-boots, not made in the Dominion, had been selling at 1/11, and they now carried duty of 7/4 a pair.

It had been said that children’s shoes and sandals would be made in New Zealand at a price competitive with the lauded cost of overseas goods, Mr. Kitchener added. He suggested that a committee should be set up by the meeting to investigate whether or not the wholesale price of Dominion-made footwear had advanced .since the tariff revision. Dominion Manufacturers’ Rates. Mr. H. W. Shove, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, said there had been no increase in the price of footwear from the biggest New Zealand manufacturers to the shops since the tariff revision. He mentioned that lie was president of the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation, and said he Avould facilitate an investigation into this subject.

The meeting appointed Messrs. Wyman, A. C. Trousdale and C. A. Moore to make the inquiry suggested

by Mr. Kitchener. Aspects of the tariff revision and its effects were discussed by Messrs. F. N. Ambler, a past president of’ the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, Mr. Shove, Mr. Kitchener, Mr. Moore and other speakers.