CARDBOARD BOOTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8249, 23 February 1905, Page 2

CARDBOARD BOOTS.

LIBEL ACTION BY A WOULD-* M REFORMER. Some of the things besides leather that get between the inner and outer soles of boots was made manifest to the Lord Chief Justice and a jury on December 2, by Mr Clavell Salter, K.C. Mr Salter appeared for a Peckham bootmaker named Soper, who brought a libel action against the "Boot and Shoe Trades Journal" and Mr Randell, who conducts that organ. ' A somewhat complicated tale was unfolded by counsel of how Mr So pei bad found himself involved in litigation because manufacturers had insisted on dumping "shoddy" upon Lim in the guise of boots properly soled fJid wet-resisting. The beginning of it all was a contract with a Norwich manufacturer for a "cheap line" of little girls' loots, which Mr Soper was horrified to find, on ripping the sides open, lined with cardboard, the lids of. boxes, and the like — substances which once they became wet retained the wet' and remained as sodden sponges for all time under the soles of the unhappy little girls . who wore- them. Yet the Norwich County Court Judge decided that he must pay for the consignment because when the samples were ripped open they, too, were found lined with card* board. . .., Embittered by this experience?, Mr Soper, said his counsel, became an ardent supporter of the movement to prevent deception in manufactured boots for the poor. But he then fpund himself in this i deUcate position. His stock, some I 10,000 pairs of boots, represented his | oajital-yet he did not know how far they were lined with leather or with cardboard. Mr Salter continued that he ,had started with money borrowed from Messrs Darnell, the biggest middlemen or factors in the trade. He was therefore bound to get his stock fAm them " just as a brewer starts a tied house." , -„ j "By this time be had got cardboard on ti brain," added Mr Salter and he distrusted portions of his stock. Ai the result of his i™*^*?*™ hj found, Mr Salter declared; that not only had some of his .other *"»&£ turers sent him cardboard boots but out of fifty-three 'hues supplied him by Messrs Darnell, thirty lines were adulterated. .forimni This made hm all the more furious for refom. His idea was a compu^ sory all-leather stamped sole, . an_d this crusade brought him in contact wivh Mr Randall, or^the -Boot and Shop Trades Journal. . 'Among th. f°y?™°!St.&tr, £ Former "until he has purged his own S3 %™%%™ a *r &?<l rtS created the suspicion that he j i-. Mr Dnke K-C, denied the. alleg- , ea S-fS^fe&d »*» wimm\ j "sf^e? was awarded £7W^mm A Ss against Mr A. R. Randall, Sftor and against tho proprietary edP I'«v of the "Boot and Shoe Tradea CffaT" Awefk'B 6tayof epoution S Ranted by the M Chief Justice Son the terms that the money , was to be paid into court.