FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21417, 10 May 1941, Page 11

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

COMMITTEE’S SPECIAL TASK RATIONALISATION IN WAR (Bv Telegraph.—Press Association) ! NELSON. Friday ! “The recently established Footwear Industry Committee has lost no time m getting to work,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, today. The Minister explained that he * had addressed the committee concerning future activities. Rationalisation of the industry was very necessary today as a war measure, and there would probably have to be a good deal more of it in the near future to | enable the country to stand up to j the economic conditions imposed by ' war. Industries functioning under ; the Industrial Efficiency Act and ; operating under a plan directed by 1 Kn industrial committee upon which engineers, workers and the State were represented could largely carry out the job themselves as self-gov-erning entities. Supply to other Countries : The principal objective was to I serve the public interest, and the I i committee must work in a way that ! would reconcile the public interest j with the welfare of all engaged in the industry. There were important problems affecting New Zealand’s war effort also that could be dealt with by the committee, such as the supply of footwear overseas, not only to New Zealand troops, which was already being done, but also to the troops of other Governments of the British Commonwealth. In this particular matter the committe would require to work in conjunction with the Fa.ctory Controller.