WAR SWALLOWED THE TOURISTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22215, 7 March 1942, Page 6

WAR SWALLOWED THE TOURISTS

ISLE OF MAN TURNS TO GLOVE MAKING LONDON, Jan. 1. Women boarding house proprietors and employees in Man, the self-gov'•.•n-ing British island in the Irish Sea, which has lost its lucrative peace-time tourist trade, have found another wav of making a living. They are handcrochetting attractive gloves in wool and cottons, greatly needed in Britain now owing to clothes rationing. Started by a Port Erin lady, Mrs Lowcock, with the co-operation of the Manx Government, the first pairs of gloves were an immediate success on the market. The chief problem was to produce them in sufficient quantities, and Mrs Lowcock overcame this trouble by holding learners’ classes. The first of them was attended by only six women; but they liked the work and told their friends. Next week 36 arrive!. That was in February., 1940. Since then the industry has been so organised that the women can work in their own homes, and to-day at least 370 women are crocheting gloves to meet the ever-increasing demand. Some are working whole time, others in their leisure hours and all earn very good money. The gloves themselves vary in design and colours, and have a distinction oi hand work.