THE PATRIOTIC NEW ZEALANDER.
and locally-made goods. ; Sir,—lnteresting articles appear occasionally in Tue Dominion, dwelling on wonders of New Zealand. All very nice and true. Loyalty and devotion to Bugland not untiequently take a leading part. It is so pleasant to read our selfpraises. Perhaps that explains why it is not unusual to see in Wellington boot repair shops a banner with the. strange devise— Excelsior—no, I made a mistake, it is, English leather only used here. English boots for sale. So interested am I that I turn into a confectioner's, and to while away a minuto thinking over tho wonderful loyalty of tho dweller of this loyal country tnat supports a user of leather manufactured outside New Zealand, whilst leather second to none is inado in New Zealand. (I happen to know what I' am talking about.) Casually, I ask the shop assistant for a shilling's worth of best chocolates. When lo! the loyalty springs uppermost in her heart. A box of C'adbury's is placed before me, and I fall to wondering at 50,000 people (vide Yc-ar Book) all being engaged in making interior lollies. lam bo absorbed in this that I find my suit is wearing out meantime, and go hence to find a tailor, ancl knowing there are some 37,000 hands engaged in tho woollen manufacturing industry, I hope to find a disloyal tailor. "Yes, Sir, Scotch tweed, Sir. Yes, Sir. The very best, Sir. I don't stock the local article. No sale for it, Sir. We'like to please our clients, Sir," etc.
Oh, what loyalty. So delighted am J that to prove that every shopkeeper and every shopkeeper's, clients are loyal tc England, 1 proceed to yet another shop, anil meekly aijd.liumbly state that I wish to buy a relic of something made in New Zealand, of which the shopkeepers and tlieir clients are proud. My query seems to somewhat surprise the-shop-assistant, He appeals to his chief. His chief look; with a peculiar light in Bjs eyes, and says, "Why, you see, Sir, we give Dreadnoughts, we sent men to Africa. Silicc we did that, Sir, I do not find it profitable to stock New Zealand manufactures. The public are loyal, Sir. 'They arc patriotic, Sir. We must help the English manufacturers to keep up their end." Wearily, I step on a tram, thinking tc find a comfortable seat to meditate ovei .the marvellous loyalty. There is plenty of seating accommodation; but, no, everyone must have room to sprawl. Their thoughts are away wondering what the next English boat, will bring. ;Theii thoughts too deep to allow of them thinking of such a vulgar subject as the interest of the council. They won't move up, y not tlieiu. The council havn't put notices up to move up, and make room for others, like they do in other cities, sc why should tliey. It's absurd. Let-thc council get some more cars to help the poor English manufacturer. I lall to looking at the tops of the men's hats, and wonder at a question recently put to a deputation of Australian manufacturers to the Minister in Victoria for an increase in: duty on certain foreign-made goods, Quietly and politely he asked if they all wore Australian hats, Australian boots, and Australian-suits. Overjoyed was tilt Minister to hear the triumphant replies: "Certainly not; we must support the English njanufacturcr, Sir!" Yet ail unpatriotic association has sprung up in Australia of late that insists on buying everything Australian made. No best qualities for them. Its roll in Australia i; assuming vast, proportions. So much ec -that,l learn from latest reports that cer : tain largo works in Australia have-darn 1 ! to publish that they are now able to sol! j their output bccause the A.V.A. members | are quite content to buy, the Australian- | made article, and, what is more, the shop- ] icicpers always serve the Australian-made article as the best in the world.—l. am, etc., 11. C.R.
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Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 24 March 1913, Page 5
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656THE PATRIOTIC NEW ZEALANDER. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 24 March 1913, Page 5
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