British Boots Now Bought.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7958, 23 October 1905, Page 2

British Boots Now Bought.

Though talf a million pairs of boots ami shoes were imported into I'.ivglaiKl fromlAmerica 'during the past year, the British imanufaeturer relusos to ire downcast. He m > longer foal's his American rival. Me lias loughi him successfully on liis own ground, and not only has 'ho checked the competition, but. so far as the wholesale 'buying Trom America is concerned hj,. has also practically k'illed it. ■

One linn hi the West End whose I cheques to America a few years a K o used to amount to thousands of pounds are now buying' scarcely anvlliing from American manufacturers, and several London linns have no dealing* at all with the I'nitod Slates.

I'"ive or six years ago," said a wholesale manufacturer to a press represent a live, ''when the American boot ninnufacfurer lirst' came into the Held with iris smart-looking i/oot we were relying on wear and inn. studying appearance so much. Now we. go in for both. We have no difficulty in copying the smartest American models and usually we originate neat nivd artistic boots.

"The result is'that the good Bnglish made boot not only wears as well as it always wore, 'but it also looks as well as any that ever came from America.

"Wo haw no hesitation in saying indeed, that any unprejudiced buyer would prefer English' made hoots because of 'the- qualities of wear In them. American manufacturers, it is true, pay great attention to finish and appearance, 'and now so do we. ■'Of course there is still a retail trmlu in: Kiifeluiwl for American bouts, more particularly perhaps for ladies' boots, but , r iOO,0(Kl pairs m ! not a. great number. We haw ..gj orders alone that run into 10' o]" •-I'oiw. I'npw. I