THE AMERICAN INVASION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7088, 2 May 1901, Page 3

THE AMERICAN INVASION.

POSITION OF THE BOOT TRADE,

IMPORTATIONS INTO NEW ZEALAND.

There is hardly a trade journal in England which! has not 'raised ai cry lately iis regaird to the manner in which American manufacturers are invading markete that formerly belonged exclusively to Great Britain. The rapid ascendancy of Am^ricA has probably been more marked in Au* traiasia than in any other paart of th| world. In New Zealand, especially, 3aig| quantities of America^ manufactured goods are imported, a*d €hey are gaining fres| ground every year. . X At the Arbitration Court this morning, Mr S. Smith., a boob manufacturer of Christchurch, stated that the importations df boots were increasing very rapidly. Formerly, they oam» from England, bub now it woa America whioh sent them into tfc» oolony, tiie fotroer country being steadier forced out of the market. J In reply to Mr Justice Cooper, MrSmifi stated that in ladies' low-grade shoes, tHe American "bottoming," which includes several departments, was "rascally bad;?' Speaking to ai representative of this journal later on, Mr Smith said that the America*! article, from the highest to the loweit grade, was much Inferior to either the English or the colonial boot. It was, however mora showy and attractive, though hot ap substantial, and was much cheaper than i|s rivals. * . . .«'• Another manufacturer stated, m Court tf day that be could import the Amenoap Goodyear-welt boot for 4s less than itcOuid be obtained in the colony.. V; When Mr J. A. Frostick, of . Chnsjfeohuroh, went into the witness-box, he pead the following figures to show how the relative positions of America and England w«w changing in this respeot : — - IMIPORTATTONB INTO TEE COLONS'. *. Amerioa. England, s , Dozens of pairs. Doßano of pairs. 1897 . 796 68,480 1698 . 1,081 65,487 ' 1899 . 1,586 68,732 y-. 1900 . 4.61& 68,046 The following are the total values of ti^o boots imported into the colony during the years stated. Mr Frostick said that the figures indicate that the American importations are increasing in quality, a» well Is in quantity : — - ' : ' ' ■' lAjaierica. England. c £ £ v 189T , 2,929 111,028 1898 ' . 8,633 112,827 1889 . 6,706 109,496 1800 • 18,285 113,819 The manufacturers aire unanimous that the boot trade is suffering by the increase of American importations.