BOOT TRADE PIONEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 12

BOOT TRADE PIONEER.

80TH BIRTHDAY PASSED. CAREER OF MR. G. A. COLES. The pioneer of machine-stitching in boot manufacturing in New Zealand, Mr. George Alexander Coles, of Salisbury Street, Morningside, was 80 years of age on Wednesday. Mr. Coles still takes an active part in the management of the business of G. A. Coles and Company, Limited, which he began in Eden Terrace as long ago as 1884 Machine-stitching proved to be a great stimulus in the manufacture of footwear in the Dominion, and it was not long after Mr. Coles' enterprise that other concerns were compelled to adopt the new method. Previously, hand-stitching had invariably been in operation. Mr. Coies was married in England and came to New Zealand in 1882. His native county of Northamptonshire has always been foremost in boot manufacture, and Mr. Coles' father was engaged in the business. He was experimenting with sewing machines in the trade at the period when industrial life in England was coming under the influence of machinery. The innovation was resented by the manual workers and measures to protect the machines had to be taken. Mr. Coles attended Wellingborough Grammar School and entered the trade in Wellingborough as an apprentice. On his arrival in New Zealand, Mr. Coles was employed by Messrs. Toomer Bros, at Christchurch. He came to Auckland and entered the boot department of Messrs. McArthur and Company, leading warehousemen of that time Later, lie went into partnership in the trade and eventually carried on the business on his own account in premises opposite the present factory. Fire destroyed the business on one occasion, but Mr. Coles persevered and the firm became one of the largest in the trade in New Zealand. It has more than 100 employees at present. Mr. Coles has always been deeply interested in arbitration and conciliation proceedings, and he was an.originator of the Auckland Employers' Association. He has been president of the Auckland Boot Manufacturers' Association and the Federation of Boot Manufacturers. Two sons, Messrs. C. W. and A. Coles, are engaged in the business in Auckland, and a third, Mr. F. A. Coles, has been occupied -in boot manufacturing for 25 years in California.