Boots and Shoes.

Naturally following woollen fabrics, boots and shoes come in. In all the large cities there are boot and shoe factories, and the work turned out, though differing in excellence, is generally most satisfactory. The manufacturers have endeavoured to give a workmanlike finish to their productions, and for neatness and elegance, especially in men's boots, the colonial production compares most favourably with the imported article. Like the woollen manufacture, the boot industry does not appear now to require a higher protective duty, and is rapidly expanding, though in 1880 the manufacturers were almost unanimous in demanding a protective duty of from 20 to 40 per cent. The chief point to be observed is the quality of New Zealand leather, which sometimes appears softer and not so durable as imported leather, probably because of haste in tanning; but for price, finish, and workmanship New-Zealand-made boots are not surpassed anywhere. Connected with this subject is the question of tanning, and it appears, from the evidence of Mr. Charles Coombes, of Dunedin, tanner, that the native bark of New Zealand is excellent for tanning, but that it is not to be procured, though in the forests on the West Coast there are thousands of tons of fine bark for the mere labour of getting it, the bark of the birch, the hinau, and the rimu being excellent for tanning. It is worth £5 a ton at the mill. It certainly does appear strange that native bark is not used when procurable in abundance, and that the saw-mills should desregard this means of profitably utilizing their bark.

In 1881 there were thirty-one boot factories in operation, employing about thirteen hundred people, and producing 280,000 pairs of boots and shoes. Since that time the number has page 63 greatly increased, and the import of boots and shoes is steadily decreasing. In 1884 we imported boots and shoes, to the value of £143,840; in 1882 the value was £196,140—which shows satisfactory progress in home production, when taken in connection with the increase of population. The islands will, or ought to, furnish a good outlet for surplus production, when we have taken up our proper position in regard to the trade to be done with them. In the meantime New-Zealand-made boots and shoes are fighting the imported article with fair success, and there is no doubt will be victorious in the end.

The shoe leathers, bookbinders' leathers, hat leathers, furniture leathers, and manufactured boots and shoes at the Exhibition are very good, and, so far as it is possible to judge, are equal if not superior to any imported goods. Not having an opportunity of handling or wearing the exhibits, of course appearances were perforce our only guide.