The Washington herald., 1908-07-19
New Masonic Temple, Nearing Completion.
BELGIAN SHOES IN ENGLAND
Manufacturers Make Strong Efforts
to Secure Trade.
Display ut Royal Agricultural Hall
Brings Continental Product
Into High Favor.

Consul H Alert Johnson. OF Liege. IN
writing that the shoe industry in Bel
GUM has come conspicuoUsly to the
front. describes the efforts being made
TO secure a larger market In Great Brit
ain;
Il Is asserted that more Than 90 fac
tories with up-to-date equipment are to
be counted IN the kingdom. some of
which are able TO turn out as many as
1900 pairs Of shoes a week. while il is
estimated that this industry gives en-
Payment 70 some 10000 persons. Exports
in this line are calculated to represent
about IS Per cent OF the entire production.
Heretofore the Belgian manufacturers
have not succeeded in gaining much foot
hold IN the English market. the impor-
tance Of which to them can hardly be
overestimated. owing 70 its extent and
accessibility.
This lack OF success is generally attrib-
uted to the fact that attempts to capture
this market have been confined 10 individ-
ual and Isolated Efforts Concerted action
on the part OF a number Of manufacturers
has now resulted In the formation Of a
well-organized syndicate known as the
Union des Fabricants de Chaussures pour
rExportati0n. a combination that has
proved highly successful in its attempts
10 place the Belgian shoe advantageously
on the British market
international exposstious Of the shoe
and leather industries have been held an
nualiy in England since 1901, and these
expeditions have attracted rather a large
number OF visitors. as evidenced by the
fact that during the first three days OF
the exposition. opened on November last
at the Royal Agricultural Hail. London
the attendance numbered Z7.000. Hereto
fore Belgian manufacturers had not been
represented at these expositions. but un-
der stimulus of the new syndicate they
were encouraged 10 meet competitors IN
the British metropolis
a complete surprise seems TO have been
IN store for the British public, for from
the opening day Of last years exposition
the Belgfans Ieaped into high favor. The
Belgian exhibitors were besieged by ap-
pllcatiOns on the part Of some Of the
leading commission merchants to act as
their agents in England A special news
paper published in the interests OF the ex-
position stated
The Belgian saoe manufacturers have exhibited
f1T the first tine and It looks very much as though
an invasion of Belgian footwear were seriously
Threatened. For the moment We are not deepfy
cFncernel II these manufacturers Uho hsve or
gE-zei the Belgian syudicate seriously contemplate
doing bgstness IN or country. they VIII find that
n-say changes Necessary Tier prices are Il Is
t-zg. lover than ouTs. but the shape and style Is
not what i wanted, and the shoes should Be bitter
tnished But. Of course. what would Be dificllt
for individual manufacture 10 undertake u
easily acc0mTlished By powerful syndicate and 1t
must be bo1ne in mind that the latter Is what We
have 20 reckon with.
This modification of the Belgian shoe to
suit English demand will be given special
attention. and there seems little doubt
that Belgian manufacturers viii eventu-
ally produce a satisfactory imitation OF
the English shoe, a style that even In
Belgium IS rapidly supplaating the French
shape hitherto IN vogue Il Is claimed by
many Of the manufacturers that the gov
eminent could materially assist in cap
turing the English market by allowing a
drawback on all duties paid for leather
and shoe findings when shoes are ex-
ported This would in a measure counter
balance the advantages enjoyed by the
British shoe manufacturer, who gets his
material free of duty. Several projects
for accomplishing this end have been dis
Cussed at the leather exchange within the
PAST year, which are to receive the con-
sideration Of the Belgian minister OF
finance.