BIG PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 11

BIG PATRIOTIC EFFORT

GREAT DISPLAY OF BRITISH . MANUFACTURES (By Telegranli-Snecial Coirosiioudeiil.)

The disptaj- of British manufactured goods that is being made in connection with the Hawera Winter Show is of Biuch moro than vncro local importance. It represents, in fact, a development that may have a very important inftu■ence in the promotion of British trade in New Zealand. The agricultural and pastoral shows held Annually at many centres throughout this country havo long been regarded as potent factors in the expansion and improvement of the primary industries. They provide standards of quality and measures of effort for (ho farming community, (ind their influence is felt. in. tho increase of the quantify and the bettering.of the quality of (he products that New Zealand has to sell. . Tho market for thoso products, as well as tho requisilo shipping facilities, - aro provided by tho' United Kingdom, and even if patriotism and race loyalty counted for nothing, considerations of self-interest'would demand, that, this country, should do its buying as far as possiblo where it does its selling. That is one .of the reasons why the display of British goods at the Ha-wc-ra Show this week calls for special -mention, - -

. , The Trade War. The exhibition at Hawera may be said \o have had its inception in August, 1934. It has been the misfortune of the ■Germans that their activities in tho field ■of'war forced the British' Empire to ■undertake the creation of an efficient nnd adequate army. It will bo found in tho years to como that .the Germans were similarly unfortunato when they' forced the British peoplo to prepare for a trade war and to adapt tot British uses some •of-the keen and effeetivo weapons that the Germans themselves. had handled.' ,The manufacturers of tho enemy States attached a great deal of .importance to exhibitions.' The. annual Leipzic Fair and other trade exhibitions of a similar character, wero an-limportant, part ■of their selling organisation in' tho years before the war. They lost no opportunities of -placing'their goods before .buyers'- and prospective' buyers'in.' tho most, attractive possiblo , forms. They pushed their trade so earnestly -and unremittingly that many foreign buyers, and some British people too. had begun to believe that the British manufacturer •was being left behind in- the race. This ■was scarcely tho case, but. it, wa3 a fact that tie German had secured a very firm hold on certain avenues _of trade and certain lines of manufacturing effort.

Then came the war. .Germany's overseas trade almost ceased, since German shipping was-'swept from ' tho trade routes. German, goods ceased to enter the markets of- the British. Empire, and reached in very-small cruantities, or not at all, tho markets of overseas neutral •countries. The British manufacturer found himself called upon suddenly to provide goods, for. markets previously served by the enemy States, to produce Jorhis own country goods that formerly had coma from Germany and Austria, and to turn out munitions of war in iunexanipled and ever increasing quantities. It is not. necessary to tell .hero low magnificently, tho British manufacturer., responded^to tho-call; and-'how, by- lis energy and the. capacity of his ■resources he vindicated tho. might of Britain. It is sufficient'for tho purpose: of this brief survey to mention tho part that exhibitions havo played in tho extraordinary developments of tho last three years,, and l to indieato tho place that a relatively small display of British manufactures at Hawera occupies in fi iv'ery great Imperial development.

London Exhibitions. ,- The first war exhibition was hold in ■Xondou within a few week's of tho com-, inencement of hostilities. It was an exhibition, of German goods, collected and classified by the Imperial Board of Trade in, order that British ' manufacturers might see what they were, required to produce for their home market and other markets that had been in tho habit of buying from Germany. That exhibition, or rather scries of exhibitions, .covered an enormous, amount of ground, and it quickly produced results. The Beard of Trade extended its work in many other directions, applying itself quiotly and thoroughly to the trado campaign that ■was the necessary, and logical corollary of the Empire's mighty effort in the field. One of tho results of.its work was the development of tho Department of Commercial Intelligence,' to which further referenco. will be mado later. Ani .other was tho' organisation of the first British Industries , Fair, an exhibition that has proved of enormou3 value to Homo and oversea .buyers, and that seems destined to take tho place once occupied" by tho Leipzic Fair. The third British. Industries Fair was held in Loudon.a few month ago, and its success may bo measured by tho fact that the Board of Trade, after making its arrangements on a very , largo scale.;waa unable to provido all.the space asked for by manufacturers,- many of' whom were bidding keenly for ordinary trade, while at tho. same timo liandling war orders on a hugo scale. An illustration- of what these exhibitions mean to British industry may be quoted in. passing. For many years before the war Britiin'had practically relinquished to Germany and Austria tho manufacture of laboratoiy earthenware, the delicate and beautifully manufactured articles intended for use in experimental chemistry,'surgical practice,-and bo forth. These articles were not produced in tho United Kingdom, and tho Central European, States had a virtual monopoly in all parts of the worjd. But in March last sovoral British firms were able 1o oxhibit these productions at the Third British Industries' Fair. They had studied tho mothods of manufacturers, probed enomy secrets, and wore Teady to faco competition. Thoir intention to hold the ground they had won was demonstrated by tho fact that they were selling at pre-war German list quotations. They could havo doubled their prices without present demur from any quarter, but they preferred to test at once their ability io hold their trade against all competitors when tho war was over. "A. few consignments havo been sent abroad/' Raid ono firm, "but for the present it is taking us all our timo io meet tho Homo demand, which is now on a most cxlensivo scale. AVo havo tho oversea, trade well in mind, and it will, receive methodical and persistent attention as soon as circumstances permit." Other firms were exhibiting delicate varieties of chemical glass. Tim Gnrninim used to possess an almost unchallenged monopoly in this field. To-day they are being beaton in quality and also in price by British manufacturers, who lia.ro entered tho'field since the outbreak of war. "It is hardlv necessary lo say." wrote the correspondent of a British trade journal, "thai, tho fancy goods department of tho fair was ono of surpassing interest, net dnly by reason of the,fact that our manufacturers aro copying and improving upon tho ideas of tho .Austrian or German designer, but that (.hoy- are also giving their productions a better finish/at prices which compare very favourably with alien prices of pre-war days. It was impossible to inspect the section without feeling that hero at any rate the German had been beaten, and 'soundly beaten, on a field from which bo insolently imagined I hat he could easily oust a.nv intrusive competitor. 'Wo are doiii"; extremely well.' said one manufacturer, 'in spite' of some difficulties which havo arisen in connection with material and the much higher wages which the whole of tho leather trades have now to pay. The demand is incessant, and our hands are eow only tied in so far an, we aro

Haw'cra, July 'J. unablo to manufacture so many cheaper lines <is ono would desire. Willi neaco wo shall, T. hope, be perfectly ready for a vast esporc trade, and UrilMi fancy leather wares will firmly establish llicmselvcs in oversea markets where formerly they, v.-cru «.'rarity.'" BriUsh manufacturers of fancy goods aro now sending their wares, in big quantities to India and the Hast.

British Activities. Mention has been ruado of the activities of (ho Commercial Intelligence Department Of the Board of-Trade. This .Department, as organised sinco tho outbreak oi' war, comprises a .foreign Sect-ion, Colonial Section, Trades Section, British Pairs anil Exhibitions .Section, and a General Section. There aro also sections for dealing with Miipiiing- and transport, problems, and financial ijiquirios. A technical adviser is employed to deal with technological nutations. "Everyone who ['eels any prino in British energy and resourcefulness must, have watched with gratification the'development, of industries which were formerly \<> i-o large aa extent'in ihe hands of our enemies," said' Sir Wilmm Clark recently. "The Commercial Intelligence Bra Dolt turned ita attention first to the opportunities afforded for tho promotion of foreign trade, and issued -i series of biilletina relating to a. number of commodities, indicating the-frado that had been done in them by Germany aud-Austria in- various oversea markets, and the openings afforded for British manufactures. ■ livery soon became clear, however, flat tho opportunities and exigencies of home trade were more pressing. The interruption of enemy imports on the one hand gavo British manufacturers "an unique opportunity of producing jines of goods in which German competition had hitherto been notably successful, but on the other hand at the 'moment seriously embarrassed buyers who had previously been., dependent for tho commodities required'in their business on supplies from onemy sources, ihe problem, therefore, was'to bring possible producers and buyers into touch.- A special section of the office.'the Trades .Section, was formed for the purpose of supplying information regarding manufacturing and other industries. A series of 'Exchange meetigs' wero accordingly organised and a. separate office was opened to deal wilh' the work rotating to them. The meetings covered a'series of-trades which in tho past Lad been largely in tho hands of enemy firms.' - . ■.' -The officiate ci the Department were often able at these meetings to introduce British manufacturers, "c-u'paWo'of making some of the articles exhibited, to buyers who were anxious to place-orders. It was possiblo also, at tho meetings to bring manufacturer;! into touch with a sufficient lumber of buyers to make it worth their while to embark on sew lines of production, and in many cases this was successfully brought' about." Sir William Clark.proceeded to refer to the trade exhibitions already mentioned... -

■An Imperial Task. . The purpose of this article, necessarily incomplete in its details, is to indicate tho nature of- the, movement which has produced, as one of its minor manifestoI dons, the exhibition, of British goods at Hawera.. When. His Majesty s Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, Mr. h. \Y. . Dalton, was offered space by tho pro- , motors of tho show on condition that ho would arrango for a display of British manufactured goods, ho hud no hesitation ■in.-rating advantage of the opportunity. He realised how fitting it was that British goods should ,1)0 shown alongside tho products that New Zealand sells to tho Mother Country. Ho placed himself in communication with', tho representatives of British manufacturing firms.in this country, as well as with tho Board of Trade in London, and ho had ionnd that thero would be no difficulty m tiling tho space that liad been allotted to him. Tho British manufacturer, preoccupied as he is with tho task of winning the war" by tho-output of his workshops, has not forgotten for. a moment the trade war that is to come. Ho kDOws that when peace has been restored,- tho enemy States will make a bold and determined effort' to win in tho trade struggle what they aro losing in, tho field. Germany and Austria must fight for trade whon tho war is over, for by trade alone can they lift themselves from the ruin in which the failure of their schemes of world dominion havo involved them. It is for tho Britisli Empire to see that m no part of King George's far-Aung Dominions do tho enemy States recover the trado connections they 1 havo forfeited. Tho British manufacturer can best be assisted to hold what he has won by tho display of his. goods. Hawera in this respect has 6et an example that other districts, throughout New Zealand will be likely to follow. Tho British manufacturer has everything to gain, and nothing to. lose, by publicity. His goods will bear examination in any part of the world where they are sold. Ho is not afraid to oxlubit them, since he knows that'tko fame of British industry for the production'of tho best in every branch of manufacture is Lased firmly in national practice and national characteristics. Tho peoplo who havo visited.tho Hawera Show havo 6een, it is scarcely necessary to say, a relatively small exhibition. Tho display might havo been ■ expanded a. hundredfold, and still have failed to present oven a surface summary of the stupendous range of British manufactures. Thoro aro many industries in tho United Kingdom too busy with, tho production of munitions to attend to-their ordinary trado at all. They set themselves ■to the national task, and they leave the world's markets aloiio until that task is completed. But nobody who saw what had been uouo at Hawera in a small way will doubt what tho result will bo whon tho mighty tido of British industry turns from overwhelmed"and foundered enemies and enters again tho channels of world trado. '

THE GENERAL EXHIBITS DAIHY PRODUCE. Tho dairy produce display was quite up to that of last year. In fact, numerically tho entries in chceso exceeded last year's figures by 23. Tho quality of both butter and choeso is; on. tho .wholo, up to tho usual btandard. A remarkable part of tho exhibition is tho failure of many Tarauald factories to compote.' In fact, if it had not been for factories outside Taranaki province the show would have been very poor indeed. Tho exhibition as it elands is certainly not repro.senlativo nf Taranaki. Two extra classes for cheese havo been included Phis year, and. these'have drawn large entries. This cheese, from pasteurised milk and non-pasteurised milk, i« marked chceso as exported,-showing practically tho condition in which it arrives in Jiondon. Tho bulk of Ibc'priws in 'ho cheese classes went outside' Tninnnki. Ualcliold Factory being Win principal winner, with I'hrco firsts, a second, ami -'> lhi.nl. This faclocv also secured a hu'-iu for both the lleiiry Lane and the Shaw-Savill Cups, and won three gold medals and a gold, watch for poinln prizes. Cardiff, with <:wo firsts anil tiro -seconds, seemed the Taranaki championship for the third year in succession. Ivaitangata (a South' Island, factory) and Belvedere also secured firsts in the pasteurised and non-pas-teurised classes.| Norse-wood and Molls respectively scored in tho butter classes. Levin, for the third year in succession, w«n_ the three open classes. Taieri and Peninsula and Ilium vlhorpe ncio respectively second and third in each cla.ss. Moa. a?ain wins tho championship of Taranaki, open only Io Taranaki factories. Levin wins tho gold watch and gold medal for tho points prizen, Taieri and Peninsula winning ths gold medal for tho South' Is-

land 'factory scoring tho most points. Tho results wero as follow.— CIIEESIj. "Whilo Cheeso (Open). Kailangata (A. J. Hcanan) »5 Cardiff (D. Cameron) OI.J Daloficld (J. Linton) !U Carringlon (A. ]!-. Daysh) !)3i Coloured Cheeso (Open). B.clvcrcdero (C. K. If. Gallon) '.Hi Dalefiold (J. Linton) ;... lit Whakaronga (C. Crows) Pitt Tamaki (A. Gibbs) nil Pihama. (Carriugton) , 02!; Malamaii , 92 Cardiff, Kaupokonui, andNorscwood ill J Eauniati and 'J'niiki 01 Capo Egmont and Karamea M Taranaki Championship (Open). \Vhito nr Coloured. Cardiff '(0. Cameron) 05 Cape Kgmoul, (W. T. Guild) ill} Kaupokonui (\V. .'I. M'Donald) O.'ij Kuliarainoa (11. Crosbio) O.V Pihama • nilj Hell Mock and Hillsborough 02 Tariki 0U Coloured or White (Open), for-Export. DaMicld (,l. Lintonl Si\ Carringlon (A. R. Davsh) Hti Kailangata. '(A. ,I. TTcanan) .'.... !U Cardiff (D. Cameron) ullj Bolvedere, Pihama, Ta.miki, and Whakaronga oi>* Kakaramea 02 MataiTKiu .',IIJ Kaupokonui ami Norsnwood 31. Tariki nil Coloured or White (Novice Class). Dalefiold ' (E. Fcrgusson) '. X>[Belvedero (A. K. Garity) ". !U£ Carringlon (ft. Bishop) Hi Cardiff-(T. AValkins) 0.1( Hillsborough and' Pihama 02 Bell Block. 'Kaupokonui.-and -Normwood- OH Cape Egmont. Kakaramea, Ennmali, and Ta,rii;i „ ni Whakaronga 00j Single Cheese (Open). DalcHnld (J. Linton) 06 Cardiff (1). Cameron) 05 Carnngton (A. E. Daysh) nit Belvedere (C. E. H. Gallon) «j Tamaki and Pihama S2\ Hillsborough, Kakaramea, and .Kailangata. ; n;> Jlatamau, Norsewojod, and Eaurnat.i Ql\ Kaupokonui gi TariKi and "Whakaronga 00j Medium or Import (Open). Cardiff (D. Cameron) flj, Tamaki (H. Gibbs) ; ni Kakaramea, (H. Crosbio) on Pihama (A. P. iCeilson) 3'»JWawhiki 02 Matamau 911. 'Whakaronga on> Pasteurised Export Cheese. ■ Coloured or "White. Korsewood (A.. D. *Brown) 021 Tariki- (T.. M'Elroy) : 02 Kaupokonui (WaiomiTa) (H. Greenhill) ' ' ....: 01J Also competed: . Bell Block (Hillsborough), Jolls (Okaiawa), .Tolls tTaikatu), Kaupokonui (Ahroa), Kaupokonui (Kapuni), Karpokonui (Oeo), Kaupokonui (Skeet), Kaupokonui (Sutherland), Kakaramea, Kaupokonui. Pihama, Pihama (Waiteaka-), Pihama' (Patiki). Non-Pasteurised Cheeso (Coloured or White). Mell.s (D. Campbell) v ... 91 -Matamau (J. Aichison) 001 Mells' (Whakaramea) (0. Crawford) 00 Hawera (Prasev Eoad), Hawera (Glover Eoad), Hawera (Tawhiti), Hawera (Tokiu ora), Hawera (Whareroa), Jolls (Manaia Eoad), .Tolls (Maoigawhcro), .Tolls (Otakeho), Jolls (Palmer Eoad), Jolls (Ternsky Eoad), Jolls (Tengutu), ICaikoura, Mormanby, Oxford, Waimea, also competed.

Special Prizes.' ■ Henry Lano and Company's Challenge Cup, value -£50, and Dominion Show's Gold Medal for most points in classes 1 and 2—Daleiield Co., 188; Belvedere, 187; Cardiff, 186; Cai'rington, 18(j; Tamaki, 188.

Shaw, Savill,' and Albion Company's Challenge Cup, value £2b, and Dominion Show's Gold Medal for maker scoring tho aggregate highest points in open classes— Daleficld Dairy Co., 8; Cardiff, 7. .

Gold watch presented by the Dominion Show to maker scoring most points in open cheese classes—Dalcfield Dairy Co. (J. Linton), 379 J. •

Gold medal to maker from South Island scoring highest points in all open classes —Kaitangata (A. J. Hcanan).

Gold medal to maker from North Island (outside Tarannki) scoring highest points in all open classes—Daleiield Dairy Company (J. Linton).

BUTTER AWARDS. • Butter Factory Butter (Open), to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. Lovin (J. Suiellie) 9a Taieri and Peninsula (C. C. Capcl) 911 Buhnythorpo (E. H. Keevo) '. Ot Awahuri (C. H. Clever) ' 931 Ballance and Masterton, 93; Golden Bay, Moa Farmers, Mauriceville, Shannon, To Aroha, 92J; Capo Egmont, Kairauga, North Taranaki, Pio Pio, 92. I'actory Butter (open only to members of tllo N.Z. Dairy Factory Managers' Association). Lovin (J. Smellie) '. 95 Taieri and Peninsula (C. C. Capel) ... ' 0-iJ Ballance (D. Kelly) 91 Biranythorpe (E. H. Beove) 91 Awahuri,' Aria, Masterton, 93; Goldon Bay, Kairanga, Moa Farmers, Mauriceville, Shannon, To Aroha, 92J. Special Prizes. Special .prizes for most points in open classes were awarded as follow:—Gold watch, presented by Dominion Dairy Show (open)— Levin Dairy Co. (J. Smellie), 190. Gold medal, to maker from South Island —Taieri and Peninsula (C. C. Capel), 189. Gold medal, to maker from North Island (outside Taranaki district)— Levin Dairy Co. (J. Smellio), 190. Dairy Factory Butter (Open). Levin (J. Smellie) ....:.. '...... 95 Taieri and Peninsula (C. C. Capcl) 94{ Bunnythorpo (E. H. Beeve) nl Ballance (D. Kelly) 931 Awahuri, Moa Farmers, Shannon, 93; Golden Bay, Masterton, Mauricovillo, To •Aroha, 921; Kairanga, North Taranaki, 92; Capo Eginontyl'io Pio, 911. Taranaki Championship. Moa (,T. M. Boss) 93 Havcra (A. 911 Cape Egmont (W. T. Guild) 89 OTHER, EXHIBITS.

Thci'o -was a very fino display of roots-~ in fact, a better exhibition has never been seen at Hawora. Tbo mangolds were particularly good, tho rainfall m 'the district having been just sufficient for tho production of first-class crops. There was also a notable display of onions in lho'form and garden section, not because, of Ilio number of entries so much as tlm quality shown, somo of the- specimens beingpractically perfect. Tho school exhibits wore u!m> guild. The. womenfolk competed largely in tho fancy work and home industries divisions, Urn awards bring well distributed throughout Tara.uaki. A. lad named Griffith Joites distinguished himself by beating lho fair scv for somo of the best prizes.> In lho honcv classes M. •!■ H." Nicholas. <>f Itowcrii, was Hie miiin exhibitor, and to him went the bulk of I he. awards. There is a considerable a.niotinl. of judging lo flu. and ilio show will, ixlend until the end of Ihe week. Tho show is really larger than ever, a.nd sonic idea, of tho 'development of the show may bo gathered from tho fact that in 1910 at tho opening tho space available was 25,020 feet, and this was considered a. very large area. At lho present time, however, there in -19 286' feet, aJI under ono roof, mid elill lho difficulty is lo accept a!! tho applications. Tho'display is ono oE oxceptiona.l merit, and thcro is hardly ;i rcquiroiuoiit of lho farmyard that is not provided for in lho rnmpVehoiiflivp display in lho ball of machinery. The New riymnulh Technical School has also a splendid exhibit demonstrating (ho complete course, of training Riven lo folly equip boys a.nd girls for their work of tho future, cither in the professional world or in tho world of •mecna.nics.