H—44A

Infants' Footwear. —A standard specification for infants' footwear, sizes 3 to & inclusive, manufactured by the cemented, veldtschoen, and pre-welt processes, with upper leather of calf, yearling, kid, chrome, or patent leather, was completed during, the year. There has been an insistent demand for such a specification for infants' footwear in order to ensure that this class of footwear will be manufactured to requirements that will ensure utility in service. Footwear Lasts.—The standard specification stipulating uniform basic measurementsfor footwear lasts was completed by the Lasts Committee. The specification establishesheel to ball, ball, waist, and instep measurements over a sufficient range of sizes, and in adequate gradations, to ensure that footwear manufactured on the standard lasts will correctly fit feet that fall within the category of normal shapes and sizes. If footwear is manufactured on these lasts in sufficient quantity, and in correct proportions,, the number of people who will be unable to obtain satisfactorily fitting footwear, it is considered, will not exceed some 5 per cent. The specification incorporates the following sizes and variations in size-widths :

The comprehensive tables which incorporate these sizes and gradations are set out in the specification in a way that should facilitate their use by manufacturers. It will, of course, require some considerable time before lasts are available in sufficient numbers to permit an adequate supply of footwear manufactured to this range and gradation of sizes to become available to the public. It is intended that in due course the Standard Mark should be used to distinguish footwear which conforms to the size requirements of the standard specification from that which does not do so. The importance and value of this work is soundly evidenced by the representations of orthopaedic specialists, footwear-manufacturers, the Plunket Society, and various women's organizations, concerning the serious injury which incorrectly fitting footwear is causing to children's feet, in particular, and which so adversely affects their posture and general health in later life. In addition to being important from the point of view of the physique and health of the people, the matter has an economic aspect, since ill-fitting footwear has not the same service life as footwear that properly fits the wearer. In the past not only has an insufficient number of sizes and range of gradations within those sizes been manufactured, but, in addition to this, the basic measurements adhered to by one manufacturer in some cases have differed from those used by another, with the result that shoes designated the same size by two or more firms have not infrequently been made to different basic measurements. The standard specification for basic measurements for lasts will correct this by establishing uniform basic measurements in relation to sizes, and will at the same time provide for a gradation of these basic measurements adequate to fit the wide range of differing foot measurements. Gum Boots.—The Gum Boots Committee has made good progress with the formulation of a standard specification for gum boots. Survey of Children's Feet. —The measurements which are incorporated in the specifications relating to children's feet are to be subjected to the practical test of a survey of the actual measurements of children's feet falling within the groups that

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Class of Footwear. Number of Sizes. Number of Half-sizes. Widths to each Size. Total Gradations. Infants' 3 3 6 36 Children's and small boys' 3 3 6 36 Maids' 5 4 9 81 Boys' and youths' 7 7 6 84 Women's 9 9 9 162 Men's 9 8 9 153 Totals 36 34 45 552