THE CHILDREN'S TOYS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 11

THE CHILDREN'S TOYS

BANNING THE GERMANS

WORK FOR DISABLED

SOLDIERS

An impression seems to exist in tho minds of some people that because Germany can no longer supply tho children of Now Zealand with toys, tho young people must look to Italy and tho United States for their dolls, teasets, engines, balls, games, trumpets, zna tho hundred and ono other tilings that go to tho filling of Cliristmas stockings. This is not the caso. Tho Gorman toy is banned—or, at any rate, it ought to ba. But Now Zealand and tho othor British Dominions

aro not dependent on foreign countries for substitutes, since tho manufacturers of tho United Kingdom have taken this, matter in hand thcmsolves. They have had the assistance of tho Imperial Board of Trade, which early in tho war realised tho importance of tho toy trade, and they havo proceeded with tho development of a toy industry that ought to havo tho' support of overy patriotic British citizen. When tho war came, and tho supply of German toys was cut off, the chief problem confronting tho British toy manufacturers was the production of (lolls and tho cheap metal toys. Tho

"soft toys," which inclutlo Teddy bears, stuffed animals, and other playthings mado o fsoft materials, had always been mado successfully in England, and some of tho British manufacturers of these lilies had world-wido reputtaions among tho buyers of toys. Britain produced, also, its own wooden toys of tho more expensive sorts, its own tricycles, scooters, etc., and its own high grade steam and electrioal toys. But tho dolls and the cheaper motal toys had been imported, and tho immediate task was to replace them. Tho essential parts of a doll, as every child knows, are the head and the eyes. China heads and dolls' eyes had not been mado in the United Kingdom before tho war, and tho processes were not familiar. The making of eyes is a highly expert operation, of which tho Germans had possessed practically a monopoly. Tho manufacture of dolls' heads and eyes was soon begun, tho Board of Trado assisting by getting together samples of the enemy goods, and today tho industry is strong, and apparently on a permanent footing. Incidentally, it is providing employment for hundreds of Britain's partially disabled soldiers. Tho heads at first did not reach the standard of prettiness that the Germans had attained in their productions. But thero has been a steady improvement in this respect. Succossful artists have beon employed to prepare patterns for tho moulds, and tho British dolls of this Christmas season should , satisfy oven the most exacting of tho young people. In addition to the china heads, tho unbreakable heads are also being made in the United Kingdom now, and the manufacture of celluloid and complete dolls has been undertaken. These branches of the industry aro quite new to the United Kingdom. Big faotories in the Potteries district aro working hard for tho children of tho Empire, and indeed of the world.

A very largo proportion of Germany's trado in metal toys, including the cheap mechanical toys, was before the war in the hands of ono huge firm, which had enormous capital. It produced playthings that sold retail at from 6d. to £10 or £12 each. British firms had always more than held their own in high-grado , model engines, model yachts, and so forth, but they had not competed in 'the very cheap Hues to any extent. Immediately after tho outbreak of war one big British firm set itself to nil the vacant placo in the market, but directly its expensive plant and huge factory woro ready tho firm was required to devote itself to the production of parts for shells. _ This incident illustrates tho disabilities under which jthe British manufacturers have laboured, and labctaed cheerfully and patriotically, during; the war period.. When tho Army has got the last shell it requires the plant will become available ior the manufacture iof metal toys again. Other firms aro in a similar position, for it was early discovered that tho plant used in normal times for the making of mechanical toys was admirably adapted to the production of fuses and caps for shells. But in spite of all difficulties tho manufacture of toys in the United Kingdom has extended. Thoro aro certain branches of the industry that aro particularly suitable for. tho employment of partially-disabled soldiers and sailors, and to-day the Lord Eoberts Memorial Workshops are ono of the big factories concerned in tho trade. The articles turned out at these workshops, instead of tho brand "Made in Germany," have tho inscription, "Mado ut the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors," und they include almost every sort of toy than a child can wish for.

Another development in the United Kingdom siuoo the outbreak of war has boea the establishment of a rural toy-making industry. Many of Germany's cheaper toys wero produced ill the Homes of agricultural workers, often under sordid conditions. An attempt 13 being made in England to achieve the best that can bo got from this form of labour while eliminating its bad featuros. The llural' League, which was established for this purpose, has branches throughout agricultural England, and is producing very good toys, which are marketed by tlio central organisation. The Imperial Board of Trado has given encouragement to every now departure in the toy-making industy, as well as in every other inindustry, as well as in every other introlled by Germany. Tho purposo of this- article is not to describe in detail Britain's now toymaking industry, but simply to show that New Zealand, and the other Do-

minions aro not dependent upon foreign countries for tho toys that they can no longer buy from Germany. Tho Mother Country is ready to make the playthings that the children of tho Empire rcqnirq. Directly tlio war is over and the insistent demand for munitions ceasos, the British manufacturers will enter tho toy trade with determination to ktep the Germans out for good.