BOOT OPERATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 58, 6 September 1938, Page 4

BOOT OPERATIVES

ACTION IN ENGLAND

REPERCUSSIONS MAY BE

FELT HERE

Possible repercussions of the Government's action in increasing the tariff on imported boots and shoes are mentioned in a letter received in New Zealand: from the secretary of the Rossendale Valley Boot, Shoe, , and Slipper Manufacturers' Association.

The letter states: "In this district there are 21 firms of shoe and slipper manufacturers, one. of whom employs more "labour in one factory than is employed.in the shoe trade in the whole of New Zealand. Each of these shoe factories are cutting up enormous quantities of sheepskins for upper materials of the footwear which is produced in the district. Examination has shown that approximately 70 per cent, of these sheepskins are coming from your country, and steps have been taken and are continuing to be taken to find alternative sources of supply. In addition, the local union of operatives, representative of some 8000 to 10,000 operatives, is. taking a ballot on the question of the boycott of: New Zealand butter and other produce. The district has ceased to indulge in Press articles of any kind, and is quietly going about its own business until the repercussion is felt in your own country, when it is hoped your Government will see the ridiculous position to which they have brought themselves. We are aware that the common acceptation of the position is that Rossendale is too small to make itself felt in New Zealand. I am afraid that New Zealand is in for a very rude awaken-' ing. - ■ .

"It will have been noted with some satisfaction by your Government that the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives has turned down a proposal for boycott, but I must draw your attention to the fact that its operatives are not affected to the same extent as the Rossendale operatives. In the first place, they are engaged in the manufacture of footwear of a much better class of production, and,,in the second place, the Leicester and Northampton trades are not using sheepskins to anything like the same extent as Rossendale.

"It is realised in this area that we have your farmers on our side, and it is up to them to show their disgust with' the present situation at the next elections in your country."