CHEAP SHOES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20678, 15 October 1932, Page 14

CHEAP SHOES.

♦ IMPORTATIONS FROM THE EAST. MENACE TO FOOTWEAK INDUSTRY ALLEGED. Ll'llOM Ouit P.YIU.IAMENTAItV RePOUTEII.] WELLINGTON, October 14. Urging that the increasing importations of cheap footwear from Japan, the Federated Malay States, and tho Straits Settlement were a menace not only to manufacturers and operatives in Now Zealand, but also to farmers and the tanning industry, a deputation from the New Zealand Boot Employees' Federation and the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers' Association waited on the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) this afternoon to request Government intervention. Mr Forbes promised to look into the question. Growth of Imports. Mr F. Jones, M.P., who introduced the deputation, said they were anxious to- bring under the Prime Minister's notice the growing importation of canvas rubbor shoes and complete rubber shoes. Importations from Japan had increased from 2112 dozen pairs (valued at .€1387) in 1930 to 10,743 dozen pairs (£7507) in 1931, and 21,958 dozen pairs (£11,033) for tho first nino months of 1932. Thcro had been corresponding increases in. imports from tho Malay States and the Straits Settlement. The duty was 50 per cent, on imports from Japan and 25 per cent, on others, but since the average prices of the goods were only lid (Japanese) and Is Od (Malayan),"the duty did not make much difference. The retail prices were so cheap that working men were induced to wear the shoes in the summer months. Mr C. A. Watts, secretary of the Employees' Federation, said that the Japanese shoe was a splendid imitation of that imported from Canada, and was so much cheaper that Canada would soon lose her market. The importations hurt not only the operatives whom he represented, but also the manufacturers, the tanning industry, and tho farmers. i\r ; ■ East > resident of the Boot Manufacturers' Association, declared that these cheap shoes were a menace to the industry, which, although it had sniSi C n ° n , Centrated ° n ln " ki »8 footwear suitable for summer wear, was unable feomo of the rubber shoos wero such good imitations of leather that thoy would probably come to be worn in the winter months, also ruining <] lo winter

"Staggeringly Low Prices." "-\o civilised euuntrv could far-,* >n„, Minister. "One of our big problems iH.in roßnrd to these lo •! •need R ood.s. Formerly *- Q have always been able to deal w itl. them by S<f but it seems (hat these goods axe beyond even tariff.,- lie mentioned sever I other examples of "staggeringly lem pries' at u-hich Japanese goods wore bemg .sold, and promised to dis;;i h i; v * with ti, e comp. Holler or Customs. .