"MADE IN NEW ZEALAND"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 6

"MADE IN NEW ZEALAND"

9 NOT A FAVOURED MARK \

A PROPOSED CAMPAIGN

THE WORST CULPRITS

Tins need for a campaign to induce the people of this country to buy goods made in Hew Zealand was urgeu by Mr. r. Norris, honorary organiser for the National Service League, in an address delivered by him beiore the Industrial Association.

He said that one of the planks of his league was that the people should help the Umpire by buying goods made in the Empire, and especially goods made in New Zealand. One oJ his ideas was that the appeal should be made first to tlie young. Ho himself had gone through the schools of New Zealand making tins appeal to school children, and he was sure that if the appeal were properly made the children would take up with enthusiasm this method of helping their country. The aim was u very fine one, mid ho would urge that the industrial associations should help in a scheme tor u tour of all the nchools of tho Dominion. For the venture a sum of i6CO would be required, and he would be prepared to undertake a lecturing tour uimsell for, say, =£250. He said that the secondary industries would be of the greatest assistance to our returned men. They were keen to learn, and given the right machinery lie wa>s sure that the New Zealand workman could make goods equal in quality with those made anywhere in tho worid, He gave an idea of how he proposed to advertise New Zealand industries, and of how the scheme migm be financed.

Mr. W. H. Mainland said that the association had arranged to n eet the headmasters of Wellington for the purpose of introducing this subject to the children of the sciiools. Until that meeting had been held the association would have to defer reply on Mr: Noma's scheme. Further, the Now Zealand Association had a proposal for the appoLument of au organiser, and he hoped that soon there wouid be an organiser whoso duty it would be to advertise' New Zealand industries.

Mr. Norris said that the league's viewwas that this work ought to be done, but that so long as it was done the league did not care who did it. All that the league desired was lo co-operate with tlie associations in educating the children in this knowledge of New Zealand goods. Mr. L. T. Watkins said that the greatest 'need, it seemed to him. was for the education of the adults of New Zealand. It was very well to teach all this to children, but for the present children were not buying! Even the members of the association, who were industrialists, did not know much about goods outside of their own l.aes. They had not the in formation, ami (here was .no source from which they could get it readily. Ho mentioned roofing slates. He understood that Marseilles tiles were made somewhere in Franco, simply because ho had been taughtilhat Marseilles wa9 in France.

Mr. Mainland: Marseilles tiles are made in Dunedin now. (Laughter.) Mr. Wntkins: "That shows how little I do know-, about it." He said that ho had heard of a factory making tiles somewhere out at Silverstroani. He did not believe much could bu dono until there was some compilation of reading referonce which would give the information required about New Zealand goods. ' Mr. ,Norris «id lhat he.'believed that the best way to reach the adult was through the children.'

Mr. E. Bull said that tho biggest culprit was the retailer, who pushed the imported article to the detriment of the local goods, If a customer asked for New Zealand goods, the retailer said: "Oh, they're no good. Here's tho English article." Tho fact was that the retailer got a bigger ratio of profit on tho imported goods. '

Mr. T. Ballinger spoko of candles. People insisted on buying English candles while equally good candles were made in New Zetland.

Mr. Bull: They can't get English candles now. They are buying candles made, in Burma by black labour.

Other members spoko of instances of New Zealand manufactures "turned .down" in favour of English goods of no hotter quality. Mr. Mitchell told of how his firm had made, -under royalty, for years a machine with a British name nlate. PeoDlo bought this machine as British, but the same people would not now buy the same machine because it bore the firm's own trade-mark.

Mr. E.- E. Stonebanks said that Hie discussion showed Hie need for introduction of this matter to the young. It might bice a decade to get results, but it seemed that the first thin? to be dono was to reach the younpf. Oilier members pointed out Hint appeal* (o children misdit more quicklv and surely reach Hie adults than appeals made directly to adults.