Foreign Football Jerseys

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 169, 13 April 1932, Page 11

Foreign Football Jerseys

Sir, —It has only this week been brought to our knowledge that thousands of foreign-made cotton football jerseys arc being imported into the Dominion. We have every reason to believe these jerseys are not branded in any way to show the country of origin. We have in New Zealand factories employing hundreds of hands which are in a position to produce, and are producing, cotton football jerseys. The New Zealandmade article is made from guaranteed two-ply yarn imported from England with absolutely guaranteed dye. while the foreign article is made from only one-ply yarn, the colours of which have been proved to be not fast. The garment is also shorter in length and much smaller in the sleeves and armholes, while the New Zealand-made article is bound with very strong webbing and much superior to the foreign. Our object in writing is to bring this matter before the attention of your readers at this important juncture, owing to the unfortunate fact that probably thousands of our junior and senior football players this season are out of employment while also thousands of the senior schoolboys arc being kept at school on account of there being no openings for them. Does it not seem ridiculous that New Zealanders playing New Zealand’s national game should be clothed in foreign jerseys? Surely if they are not prepared to buy the New Zealand-made articles they could purchase a British or Empire-made one. We sincerely trust that your readers will show their patriotism by playing the game to those thousands out of work by demanding the New Zealand-made jersey which bears a label to that effect, and by so doing will indirectly help to create work for their fellow-players. We can assure you that the factories in New Zealand making these jerseys are capable of supplying the whole demand for the country.—We are, etc.. WELLINGTON MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION. R. T. M. EDMONDS, Secretary. April fl.