To the Editor of The Limerick Echo,

Dear Sir,

Amidst all the discussions, lectures, and speeches advocating the support of Irish Industry and the encouragement of Home Manufacture, it seems that the urgency of this important matter has yet to fully resonate with the public. The dry laughter and dismissive head-shakes persist when the message is conveyed that prioritizing our own manufacturing over foreign alternatives is a wise choice.

I wish to shed light on a few facts, especially directed towards various trade bodies and the printing profession. In a recent issue of your publication, I noted a resolution from the Printers’ Society expressing regret over the amount of printing work being outsourced from the city, work that could be done locally. The prevailing tendency among shopkeepers and traders to send their printing orders outside of Limerick, leaving local printers idle, is both self-destructive and cruel. The substantial sums of money spent on external printing, which amounts to thousands each year, could provide more substantial employment within the city. Printers need not be forced to seek employment elsewhere, an outcome facilitated by the very shopkeepers of their hometown.

It is perplexing to observe how people can remain blind to this fact—any money leaving the city for work that could be performed locally directly undermines the city’s commercial prosperity. I recall visiting a certain city trader who displayed a sign in his window encouraging support for Home Manufacture. Engaging in conversation, we discussed this very topic, and I noticed a stack of printed catalogs on his counter. I picked one up, comprising several pages, with the final page bearing the imprint—S & S, Printers, England! I pointed this out, and his reaction was defensive, stating that a city firm was somewhat pricier. I inquired if this price difference was applicable per thousand copies or the entire order of 10,000. His response was candid: In the 10,000! I questioned further: Was it 3d more expensive per thousand or a total of 7d for the 10,000 copies? To which he admitted, It was in the 10,000! I remarked, “It is ironic to find a business like yours, displaying a sign advocating ‘Home Manufacture,’ while you yourself fail to practice what you preach.”

Several weeks later, I visited the same shop, and the sign still adorned the window. However, this time the proprietor was absent. A stack of handbills was placed nearby. When I requested one from his assistant, I noticed they had just received them. The wrapping bore the label of the same firm that printed the catalogs, yet the printer’s name was absent from the handbills. This method of omitting the printer’s name from work completed by cross-Channel firms and then claiming to support “home manufacture” when promoting their own wares is a deceptive practice.

Do those who operate in this manner ever pause to reflect on who truly supports their businesses? It can hardly be the people of England. The printers, a substantial body of local workers, are unlikely to outsource for their own needs. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the people of Limerick to prioritize local printing services. These misguided actions, such as omitting imprints from work, undermine the very people these businesses depend on.

Some publicans and grocers similarly opt for external printing. Yet, they fail to see their patrons who frequent their establishments for refreshments or groceries. It is the local populace of Limerick city and county that sustains these businesses. To witness these practices, one must question—do these external ventures really contribute to their success?

In concluding, I implore the printers and other trades to closely monitor those who omit imprints from their work, exposing this deceitful practice. This trickery is detrimental to the city’s prosperity. Let us hope that those mentioned herein will recognize the importance of doing what is right.

Yours Sincerely,

Justice.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 10 April 1906