OUR OWN GOODS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 70, 19 September 1930, Page 7

OUR OWN GOODS

HELP NEW ZEALAND

MISS MELVILLE'S ADDRESS

The part women can play in assisting in the campaign to popularise New Zea-land-made goods was stressed by Miss, E. Melville, of Auckland, who was the principal guest and speaker at a luncheon arranged by the committee which is organising the "Made in New Zealand Week" yesterday.

Mr. J". Abel presided, and there were also present Messrs. G. Finn, president ©£ the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association; D. J. M'Gowan, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce; G. Clinkard, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce; H. Mainland, president of the Wellington Employers' Association; E. J. Guinness, Controller of Stores; I. Woolf, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association; J. T. Spears, president of ■the Wellington Manufacturers' Association; and many others representative of the various phases of the city's life.

Mr. Abel, referring to the success of the Shopping Week, expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the zetailers had met the manufacturers so wholeheartedly. Next year it was hoped to hold the week earlier, and perhaps extend it. At present there were over 400 special displays of New Zealand manufactured goods in Wellington. He also mado reference to the fact that he was dressed entirely in Wellingtonmade clothing. As between manufac turers, he made an appeal, to the manu' facturers to help one another in regard to buying wherever possible, stressing the value of such a policy.

Miss Melville pointed out that women, to a large extent, were the purchasers, and she argued that that fact made it essential for the manufacturers and retailers to enlist their sympathy. The manufacturers wanted to get the view of the general public, because if the general public were not pleased, themanufacturers might as well go out of lousiness. She said that everywhere now she found that the people were actually and definitely aroused in. regard to New Zealand-made goods, and that now was the psychological, moment for a forward constructive move, and. the manufacturers would be the people at the back to supply the motive power. It was a matter in which tho whole of the community was vitally interested. The intelligent women of New Zealand were thinking harder than she had ever known them to think before, and now was an excellent opportunity to get their goodwill. There was, she went on, a certain amount of criticism, some of which was constructive and some destructive. For instance, it was said that some New Zealand goods were Nearer than the imported article; that was a matter for the manufacturers to deal with. Then it was said by some that New Zealand goods were "no good." Personally, with shoes, for in-' stance, she had no criticism to make. She pointed out that New Zealand goods were not marked—sonic were—and in regard to women's hats, for example, it j had beei stated to her that if tickets describing the goods as made in. New i Zealand were put on tho articles, they ! would jioFsell. She believed that most of the Parisienne models sold in New Zealand were made in New Zealand, but one never saw a ticket on them. She could not- understand why the manufacturers did not legislato among themselves instead of whispering, "they are made in New Zealand, but we must s: they are made in France." She deprecated the existence of an' inferiority complex, and urged a pride in .New i Zealapd-made. goods, and said that result would be obtained if an -appeal -were made to women's sense of patriotism; an appeal to be made through women's social and'other organisations. Another criticism was that the retailers blamed the manufacturers, and the manufacturers blamed the retailers. But why should the general public suffer because the retailers and the manufacturers had not got together? The goodwill of the public had to be obtained by means of the personal contact. In industrial life, material was already at hand in the cities. It was no use blaming the Government in regard to unemployment; that was only a confession of futility. "We have to do something," she said. If immigration had been doubled New Zealand's opportunity would-have been doubled. The solution of our present difficulties, she said, in conclusion, was largely in the hands of'the manufacturers. .-

Mr. C. F. Smith, president of the Eetail Drapers' Association, said that it had been, a pleasure to help in the work in regard to the week. He stressed the value to the Dominion from the sale of New Zealand-made goods, and said it would surprise many people to learn of,the amount of New Zealandmade goods that were, sold not labelled, because people said' they wanted something from Paris or New York. There was an enormous quantity, of New Zea-land-made goods not sold under the name of New Zealand. •

Mr. C. H Chapman, M.P., also spoke on the lines of the benefit to .be gained from the- sale of New Zealand-made goods. _.