Second Shetland Truck System ReportGuthrie, William
History
Second Shetland Truck System Report
Guthrie, William
Labor law -- Truck system -- History -- England; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
2467. Do they not bring it to somebody?-They may to somebody,
but perhaps not to me. They may have an order for it from a lady
in the south, or dispose of it in other ways. We do not ask them
what they do with it, unless we give it out to them to make a
special article with. The fact is, with regard to that kind of
worsted we do scarcely anything in it, but we sell it to any knitter
in order to accommodate them.
2468. Then you say you have given Pyrenees worsted to Elizabeth
Robertson?-Yes.
2469. Have you ever given her the other kinds of worsted that
come from Yorkshire?-That is the same thing.
2470. Is the Pyrenees and the Yorkshire worsted all the same?-
No, the Pyrenees is one class. There is mohair worsted. I don't
recollect whether I ever gave any of it. It is used, for knitting falls.
'The Pyrenees is generally made into shawls.
2471. Does Robertson generally make shawls-Yes, generally; but
she makes falls too. I don't recollect giving her mohair; but I have
given her Pyrenees often. She would get any kind when she asked
for it; but mohair is a thing we never do sell, because we only
bring it in for our own use
2472. Is it the highest priced of all?-Yes.
2473. Is it higher than the Shetland wool?-We don't sell the
Shetland wool, except in rare, exceptional cases. The fine wool
we never sell, because we have great difficulty in getting it. We
never send it south; nor do we sell it in the shop as an article of
sale, except on occasions when a person is very much in want of it
for any particular purpose.
2474. For darning, for instance?-No, that kind of wool is not fit
for darning; it is only the coarser kind that is used in that way.
2475. Then you don't regard the Shetland wool as an article of
commerce?-No, it is a material we use for ourselves and we have
very great difficulty in getting as much of it as we require. We pay
cash for it; and if we were to sell it would put a stop to our trade.
2476. You heard the evidence of Mr. Laurenson about Shetland
wool?-Yes; it is something different from my experience. If a
lady or a retail dealer in the south orders a Shetland shawl, we
don't send a shawl made of Shetland wool unless we know that
they want that particular kind, but if we send one of Pyrenees
wool, we tell them what it is made of and that if will not do, they
can return it.
2477. With regard to the worsted, does the idea that knitters
cannot purchase worsted from merchants in Lerwick arise from the
fact that the merchants do not regard Shetland wool as an article of
commerce?-That is my impression. They not only do not so
regard it; but the fact is, if they made it an article of commerce, it
would put a stop to their business.
2478. How so?-Because they cannot get sufficient material for
their own use and also for sale.
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