I have been told by some of my friends that I am very foolish to spend money in putting up an expensive building while the times are so bad, but that it would be much more sensible to put my money into Government Bonds, or retire and live on the capital. Well, perhaps it would. I have been in business for more than forty years and perhaps I am entitled to a rest. The old place has answered its purpose, and, no doubt, Mr. Michael and I could have carried on there for the rest of our time. If that were my only consideration I might take this advice, but, after all, there is some sentiment in business and I should not like to think that this which has been my life work is to end with me or Mr. Michael but will go on and grow long after we are gone.

When a person starts a business, naturally he does it to improve his position in life, but there comes a time when he finds it is more to him than mere personal advantage. It becomes very dear to him – he is proud of it and he feels his responsibilities to his employees and those dependent on them. It is said that the man who makes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before, is a public benefactor, and, if this is true, I think we can say that, if a man makes provision to employ two persons where only one was employed before, especially in times of depression and consequent unemployment, it is a source of satisfaction to others as well as himself. So that, if I can do anything to develop this business and leave it in such a state of efficiency that it can be carried on to give employment to more and more people, I shall feel that I have not built in vain.

I have tried to construct a building that would be up to date in every way. The comfort of the employees, such as light and ventilation, has had special care, and for lighting the building, over four thousand (4,000) squares of glass have been used; for ventilation, every window is made to open except the smaller sashes. I also recognised that it must suit the requirements of our trade, and have studied the lay-out of factories in various parts of the world, and, anything that would tend to efficiency, I have tried to utilize. I examined many types of buildings, but, after much consideration, decided on the present two (2) storied and basement style. No expensive lifts or stairways will be required, and effective supervisions can be given. So we have a building with wide opening windows which will make for cool, and, consequently, good working conditions. The uppers will be cut and machined in this room – the work people have to ascend one flight of steps only. The uppers will be placed on a shute and will land in the room below; that is the main floor, and the making, finishing, heeling, packing and office work will be down there. So that, beginning as uppers at one end of the room, the work will pass from one to another, and emerge as complete and packed shoes at the other.

This business was commenced forty-two (42) years ago by my father, my brother Henry, and myself in an old carpenter’s shop at the bottom of Cook’s Hill, and was afterwards carried on in a small building erected on the site we are now leaving, though many additions have been made since then. My brother Jim joined the firm about two (2) years after its commencement, and was an active partner for some years, but left it in 1899 to take up farming. Early in the year of 1900 my father died, his help and counsel had been a very great factor in the establishment of the business.

Since that time, I have carried on with the assistance of my first brother Henry, and for a few years my brother Bert. Thus I have been in the business as principal continously for thirty (30) years, and, for the greater part of this time, have been ably assisted by my brother-in-law, Mr. Michael, who passed through various stages from Clicker to Manager and partner. I owe a great deal to him, and I am certain that much of the success that has come to the firm has been due to his energetic and untiring efforts; Mr. Michael informs me that he has been absent from his work three and a half days (3˝) only in thirty-five (35) years. When the firm was established, there were only three (3) shoe factories in Brisbane; the names of these firms were: JAMES HUNTER, E.T. NEIGHBOUR and THOS. DIXON. Only four (4) styles of shoes were made in the whole of the factories – all others being imported. The styles made were the plain elastic side boots with blocked fronts for ordinary wear, and the blucher for working boots. Also, there were plain lace circular vamp boot no cap, and the derby shoe. These were worn by men, women and children. Our family had not been long in Queensland, and had come from Northampton – England’s most important shoe manufacturing centre. We had all been connected more or less with the shoe trade, and were sure that we could make shoes that would sell in place of the imported goods. Well, we got out some samples, and I have no hesitation in saying that they were equal to those imported. I was very reserved in those days, and I did not like the idea of soliciting orders, but, armed with these samples, I was sure I should be received with open arms. But, alas, I was doomed to disappointment! I showed my shoes to the retailers; they were interested, but refused at first to believe that they were locally made, but, when I convinced them, they said they did not care to buy as they had regular indents coming forward each month, and did not care to upset these arrangements, but, if we could make the ordinary plain work as made in the city, they might give me an order. We then made the plain elastic side and lace shoes, these were accepted, and so our business career commenced.

This, of course, was before Federation, and Queensland was responsible for its own tariff. The late Sir Samuel Griffith was then Premier, and, Free Trade being the policy of the Government, there were no protective duties. However, Sir Thomas MacIlwraith, who was a very far seeing Statesman, believed the Colony should do more to develop its own resources, and to this end he advocated a protective policy which he later introduced when he became Premier. The result in the shoe trade was very marked, for, in ten (10) years, the number of shoe factories grew from three (3) to thirty-six (36). In 1900 the Queensland Parliament decided by a majority of one for Federation which resulted in Free Trade between the States, and our trouble began again. Victoria, which had had high protective duties for many years, had established its manufacturing industries on such a firm basis that, in open competition, it was able to undersell the Queensland Manufacturer, and it has continued to do so ever since. I said that there were thirty-six (36) factories before Federation, and, although some of these were small and newly established, I am sure that many of them would have developed into substantial businesses – but it was not to be. In competition with the southern firms, one after another went insolvent or gave up till only about eight (8) were left. Since that time, in spite of all opposition, that remnant of eight, with two or three who have established themselves since, have done their best to hold the fort for Queensland, but at no time in all the thirty (30) years has the output been equal to that of pre-Federation days, and, although we have made some progress, the number employed still falls short by about 400 of what it was at that time, for, in the year 1900, 1,699 were employed, and, at the present time 1,300.

I have shown you some of the difficulties and discouragements of the past. The present, also, as I do not need to remind you, is a time of great stress and difficulty. I have no known it so bad for many years: competition is particularly keen, and we have to use every endeavour to keep our machines going and our men and girls in employment. But I do not want to convey the impression that it is not possible to overcome the difficulties, for in spite of all set backs, you will find we still have in Brisbane a few shoe factories which are holding their own against Southern competition. We are up against world-wide depression as well as a local one, but I look upon this depression as temporary, and I believe we shall emerge from it all the better for the trails we have faced and overcome. (Our firm has made steady progress; we always endeavour to increase our output so as to make it a little better than the previous year, and we have generally succeeded.) I have great faith in the future of Queensland – I am pessimistic enough to recognise some of the difficulties ahead, and I am optimistic enough to believe that there is a great, successful future for shoe manufacturing, and I think you will admit that this building is evidence of my faith.