A VOICE FROM CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 807, 5 October 1877, Page 3

A VOICE FROM CROMWELL.

(to the editor ok the djjnstan times.) Sir,—These times of duloess afford Vis an opportunity to think and go into cause and clioot. In looking over my accounts the other day—and having to provide for a large family—l find a very considerable item in boots and shoes. Now, as there is a largo population, a largo amount of food has to be provided : beef, etc., and the skin of the cattle provides us with material for those indispensable articles. And in looking over the imports for 1870, 1 find no loss than the sum of L 135,491 debited against the province for the importation of boots and shoes. Considering that a large quantity of this feather is exported from Otago, made into boots in England and elsewhere, is imported hero and pays a duty of 10 per cent, import, something must bo wrong, either a want of enterprise on the part of our boot factors, or an avarice to keep up the price of the local manufacture beyond its real value, or why this large amount sent out of the ■country every year. In looking through the public prints the other day, 1 see that one of our. fellow countrymen in Southland is actually making his own leather, and then converting it into boots. I say a man of this sort should be supported, he is one who is likely to build up a free and ’independent country—doing himself what other countries have hitherto done for us, he keeps the money in the country. Unfortunately for me 1 have a peculiarly shaped foot, family ditto. Well, it is not deformed, but slop boots I canrot get to fit without getting them about one inch too long, and if this superfluity was to be taken off or altered, our local son of St. Crispin says : why don’t you get measured? The reason is, Mr Editor, I cannot afford to pay his price, it really is too exorbitant. While he can keep journeymen and lace horses (things which can only be done by the wealthy at home) 1 do heft see my way clear to encourage this sort of thing. A good example has been set by our bakers in reducing the price of bread, and could it not be followed up by our bootmakers. They have not the complaints here as in large towns of high rents, etc., or, as I said before, could not some of the capital they are by their exorbitant prices extorting from the pockets of those who have to pay, be made use of to manufacture the leather and provide material for local made boots to compete with the imported article.—l am, & c - Paterfamilias.