"OUR OWN MAKE."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 649, 28 October 1909, Page 8

"OUR OWN MAKE."

A NEW ZEALAND BRAND WANTED. MINISTER; FOB LABOOB FAVOURABLE. ■A deputation representing the bootmuking, I tailoring, and furniture trades and each of the trades councils of' the Dominion waited upon .the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, yesterday to ask that legislation be introduced to cause articles manufactured in this country to'bo branded +Uade in New Zealand." Mr. D. MTaren; M.P.,' introduced the deputation. The Hons. J. T. Paul and J. Barr, M.L.C.'s, and Messrs. Laurenson, Arnold; Ell, Sidey, Davey.'and Witty, M.P.'s were also present." ..Mr.; 6. R. Whiting (Boot Trade Federation) said employers in Canterbury had declared themselves ; in favour of the proposal in question: • -It was impossible in very many instances for the purchaser •to distinguish the New Zealand-made boot or other article from' the .foreign one. -' Mr.' D. K. Pritchard (Christohurch) : saidthere. was so much duplicity among vendors .that the brand was necessary, but, if it was adopted, the New Zealand public would loyally support the local products. .■ Messrs. F. Cooke and D. G. Sullivan (Christchurch), Mr. W. S. Moxson (Auckland), Mr. E. .Howard (Christohurch), Mr. J. Browne (Qtago), and Mr. J. Jackson (Greymouth) also spoke. ■ ..'■•'.• The'members of tie Legislature who were present spoke briefly in support of the deputation's request. < ' ■ ■ .'. The Minister, in reply, said tho matter was one of utmost importance, and he had always supported the proposal made. The Government had endeavoured ,to protect local manufacturers. He was clad to see the efforts made in "Industries Week," and tho Railway Department had granted excursion fares for.the oc-\ casion, but only. 1 per cent, more passengers' than usual, had travelled as a result. "They must'not be discouraged, but must go on trying to convince the people that they could turn out as good manufactured articles as any other country. He did not see why any manufacturer should be ashamed to brand his, goods. He saw no. reason why we should riot adopt the system they hac at Home and causing all imported goods to bo marked with the name of tb? country of origin. Ho would ; lay the request of the deputation before his colleagues. There would be a Bill to amend the Factories Act,' and that would be the: place for the legislation in question. 'There would have to be a schedule declaring what manufactures the measure would apply to; as there .were some that could not bo branded. Gas mantles, for instance, ' which- were now niado in! considerable quantities in New Zealand could not be branded. .. ■•■-.- .