INDUSTRIES WEEK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 529, 9 June 1909, Page 8

INDUSTRIES WEEK.

ITS SUCCESSES, BLEMISHES, AND

LESSONS. . ' SOBIE APATHETIC SHOPKEEPERS. Of oonsidorablo interest and not a Kttio mgnifioanco'ia tho report presented to 'the Wellington Provincial Association, at . its rcoeting last evening; It embodies the' resuite and losspns of tho Now Zealand Induetrios Week display, held .shore last month. The report was framed and read by Mr. H. P. Allen (secretary to the association),"and is as follows:— | .The rosult of Now Zealand industries Week this year should certainly prove to be of, considerable -importance to manufacturers. D rom ft spectacular point of view as compared with last' year's display/however, tiio result was somewhat disappointing. Clva Us Them Cheap: Kovor MfntJ tho ■ Maker. _ Somo shopkeepers', war© very apathetic. ■ inoy stated that last year's eirperienco did not warrant them in giving up their windows entirely to New , Zealand-made goods' Sucha display, said some/ was doubtless of considerable importance and ; gain to the manufacturers, but not so much to them. •Chese opinions wore not universal, but of .sufficient importance to occupy attention. j : _'There certainly is. a feeling of perfect indifference •' ra> somo quarters aa to whether | a customer buys Now Zealand . manufactures lor imported," commented Mr. Allen. "In | °"® shop I noticed somo mens' under-clothing which, as regards price was slightly lower than the J\ow. Zealand-made: goods. Th©\ quality, however, was, incomparable,, having an. unmistakable appearance ,of cotton. I said to tho mercer,.'Similar'goods of' Now Zealand make are far bettor than-these; and surely are .cheaper in comparison.' My opinion was upheld, but I was told that many people would buy tho lower-priced article, known that our ■ goods. aro made , under far better,.conditions than most imported goods, the conditions of labour hero •and tho wages paid*, to,the.work-pcoplo,being TOtter, yet apparently many of our people who are strong advocates for restricted hours of work, and pood wages, do not perform .their part in the .upkeeping of these principles. They buy imported' articles' because they, are—l will not say, because they aro lower in price. There did not •appear to be anything like tho same number of peoplo inspecting exhibits ■' in tho shop windows .this year as last. :

One Way of Curing.Apathy. "This is no doubt accountable in two ways. 'Thefeather was not at all inviting, and this year factories .wore'thrown open 1 to the pub-' ho for inspection. Thousands ,of people availed themselves of tho opportunity of inspecting tho factories in order to see articles made. Many afterwards called upon ma for additional cards to enable them to,make further inspection, and many informed ine that though they had been in New Zealand for years, they , had no idea of the scope of our manufactures. If I may be allowed to make ;a soggestion to, manufacturers, I would say that I think it would be well, if' another BimiJar. display is held,, they should advertise '.m tho papers a list of the shopkeepers: who ara showing and selling their goods, .f think this would romove the: apathy which I found existed in soma quarters."' \ Display in London. "It is ( tb : he Hopod that our High Commissioner, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, who'has the inter,ests of our manufactures at heart, wiO secure a. lease of the premises he has boon reported to have'been .inspecting, and that a'good New Zealand display will lie made. Such a display would certainlv ■be- an excellent advertisement for New Zealand, and. would prove • that in manufacturing 'Now Zealand can hold her own against , any other country." •' '

The thanks of the association wero due Concluded tho reporiy to' tho Hon,' J.--A. Mil. lar for granting excursion fares, and to his Worship the Mayor and city councillors for allowing streamers to be carried ■ on the locally-built . trainoaj;?<.{:„ Thanks were also duo'to the schoolmasters 'arid schoolmistresses for tho interest they li ad taken in the movement. It, was most satisfactory to note that they thoroughly ; roalised : thoimportance of encouragement being given to manufacturers, Ilianks wero; also -due to the' press for the prommonco. which they gave to the matter of New Zealand Industries Week. Next Year's Display. A hearty vote of thanks .was .accorded tlio seoretao' tpr his report. The.chairman (Mr. A. W. Newton)', roforring to the.question,of conducting a display next year, said that the association would : probably debate the arguments for and aganist the holding of a, contral exhibition, instead of inviting the trading and manufacturing' community to display , on .their ■ own premises; *. As to ■ whether the exhibition should be cdnftned to tho city or partako more of a provincial, character! would bo : a matter for consideration. Ho •suggested that members, might give the matter some : thought, arid when: tho question came formally before tho.association for-de-' cision, they would be 'in a position >to go very thoroughly into'the whole scheme.. , .