SHODDY BOOTS. MR. T. E. TAYLOR'S ALLEGATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 10

SHODDY BOOTS. MR. T. E. TAYLOR'S ALLEGATIONS.

NO "FORRADER." The question of the manufacture of shoddy boots in New Zealand came before the Industrial Association last evening, when a letter from Mr. T. E. Taj lor, M.P., in reply to one from the association was read. The communication was as follows:— " X r ou do not appear to know that, this question does not. rest upon my allegation, but o-n facts. I produced beioi'e a committee of tho Canterbury Industrial Association, the materials used in tn a manufacture of certain clacks of boots in New Zealand. As a matter of iact, the factory to which I refer is in your city, and if cardboard as part of the material used in bootmaking i& a ' shoddy ' material, there is no room for doubt that shoddy boots aro made in this country. I iniornied the Christchurch committee that I made no statement aa to the extent of the evil of which I had complained. I knew positively of one factory where this class of boo), is mads, and, aa a public man, I was justified in protesting against the deception practised upon the people — a. deception it ie very difficult for ordinary persons to detect or protect themselves against. I left the committee with the distinct impression that it was prepared to present an impailial report to its association. When the association dealt with ite committee's report a resolution was passed that was both ungenerous and untrue, and proved cleaa-ly that those who were responsible fcr it were more concerned to whitewash manufacturers than to suppress the manufacture of shoddy boots or protect buyers against fraudulent manufacturers. My experience of committees of industrial associations scarcely encourages me to pursue 'this matter 'further with a committee of your association. At a. recent meeting ot your association, as reported in our local papers, one of your members stated that my object in bringing the matter of shoddy -boots before Parliament was the unworthy one of seeking to make political capital out of the matter. The statement impeaches my right to discuss public questions, and is false. If the person making that statement apologises for the insult he waa guilty of, or your association expresses regret at his conduct, I will, notwithstanding the prejudiced judgment of the Christchurch Association and the risk of a Wellington jury of employers proving incapable- of giving an impartial judgment on such an issue as the one under discussion, meet the Master Boot Manufacturers' Association at the earliest possible date. If I meet them t will prove that shoddy boots are made, that the people who buy them are imposed upon and robbed of their earnings, and give Rood reasons for the Tequest I made in Parliament .being granted. The request was that the quality of the materials used in our local boots and shoes should be disclosed to buyers." The secret a-ry had written requesting Mr. Taylor to meet the members of the Master Boot Manufacturers' Association. If this was not convenient, Mr. Taylor was to name the firm he had referred to. The chairman said that to his mind it was a very regrettablo thing that the whole of the bootmakers of Wellington wore to be branded as employing incompetent men or using ' inferior material. He did not think it w*s fair on the part of Mr. Taylor to fail to furnish tho name of the alleged firm when requested so to do. That was the only reference made to the subject.