LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2142, 18 March 1908, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

MADE IN NEAV ZEALAND. SUGGESTED DISPLAY BY SHOPKEEPERS.

The fooling that Now Zealanders should bo Now Zealanders in tlio best sense of • tho word seems to bo growing (says tlio AA'cliington “Post.”) A movement is gradually advancing in favor of tho encouragement of local manufactures by all possible means. At the .meeting of tho Industrial Association iast evening tho following letter was received from the Canterbury Industrial Association:—

“At tlio annual meeting of this association held at tlio end of last month tho matter of a display of local manufactures in shop windows for ono week of every year, to be known as “Tho Local Industries Week,’ was brought forward and very favorably received by the association and the press. Tho proposition is that each large shop should bo asked to make a display of one particular New Zealand manufacture. It was thought that a colonial display in all tlio large centres would havo a much greater effect .than if confined to Christchurch alono. ft has been suggested that the«end of Alay would bo a convenient time for making such a display. Tho Government may bo induced to run special excursions to tlie various cities which would tend to advertise tho movement.”

Tho secretary stated that the suggestion probably arose out of an idea recently propounded by a member of tho Canterbury Association to the effect that placards should he placed in the public schools urging the support of local industries. Tlio president (Air F. C. Crease) said he thought tho storekeepers should take it up. Air David Robertson poured cold water on the suggestion. “I don’t see how you are going to manufacture much more .in this country, considering tho way things aro going tiowj” he said. /'The .president repeated that the suggestion, if carried out, would bo a fine advertisement for tlio industries of the country.

Mr Robertson : AYhon you are discontinuing the getting of coal how are you going to continue manufacturing? The price of timber is going up. You can’t cut down .a treo now unless tho word goes round, “Are wo going to do it boys?” A’oil have to look at some of the black spots or rough parts tho manufacturer has to contend with. Later on lio asked, “What would the suggestion mean? A display of butter and cheese and woollens?” It was suggested that the display might bo held during tho carnival week. Air Robertson admitted -that if Kirkcaldies could be induced to make a display of Petone woollens it would bo a good tiling. Air. T. Ballinger said he did not know how his firm could make a display of its manufactures. They could not got (their orders out fast enough for tho simplo reason that they could not get- a. sufficient supply of skilled labor. Ho said the same tiling applied in Dunedin. Regarding tlie suggestion that the display should bo bold here during a carnival week, Ballinger asked if it was not tho intention to close the shops.

Air A. Brow,n said this was not so. Carnival week would bo the shopkeepers’ harvest. Air Robertson: If the suggestion is to bo carried out the .best- tiling to do would bo to make -a display in tho Town Hall. The- president: That would mean the holding of an exhibition on a very small- scale. Air Robertson: No; we would bo displaying the colony’s manufacturers in ono of tho best buildings for tlio purpose. After some further discussion Air Robertson’s .pessimism seemed ito bo weakening. “I think,” lie said, “some 'arrangement' should be made with tho shopkeepers.

Tli president thought the letter might lie referred to the Shopkeepers’ Association.

Tliis suggestion was eventually adopted on the motion of Air T. Ballinger, seconded by Air G. Carter.