NATION’S SHOPPERS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1930, Page 8

NATION’S SHOPPERS

TIME FOR CAMPAIGN

REMOVAL OF PREJUDICE. “I believe it is the psychological moment for forwarding an active and instructive movement in our national liU in regard to our industries,” said Miss Melville, addressing a large gathering of retailers and manufacturers at a luncheon at Wellington last week. Miss Melville said she Had man.) times discussed the question of getting in contact with the general public, and the general public from the buying point of view was mostly women. It had been computed that 80 to 85 per cent, of the spending was done by women. It was essential to enlist the sympathy of women, foi what, the manufacturers wanted was the view of the general public and its goodwill. She had addressed eight women’s gatherings in Wellington this week, and could say that they were definitely roused on the subject, and she believed it was the psychological moment for a forward, instructive movement in New Zealand’s national life. The manufacturers and retailers must be at the back of it, for the whole of the community was virtally interested.

TIME FOR, THINKING

“When we are not so prosperous wt are more inclined to think,” said Mist Melville. , “I say without hesitation that the intelligent women of New Zealand are thinking harder to-day than I'have ever known them to do. They are-really waking up, and this is a valuable opportunity of securing theii active sympathy of goodwill. Then is a keen interest, a desire for knowledge and a certain amount of criticism—some constructive, some destructive:”

The speaker mentioned that there were several hat factories in New Zealand, but she had never seen a hat beating a label, “Made in New Zealand.” They were most attractive, but the retailer said i>f New Zealand labels were put on the people would not buy them. That prejudice existed in regard to other products, and it was for the manufacturers and retailers to get together and remove that prejudice. Manufacturers and retailers should not go about whispering. “These arc made in New Zealand.” Let them declare it with pride in their work; not pretend that the goods were made in France or some other country.

“Get the pride complex, not the Inferiority complex,” urged Miss Meville. “Appeal to our common sense and practical patriotism and you will get a return.” A- lot of excellent propaganda could be done through the women's organisations as they were and not try to make them conform to their way of business.

MANUFACTURER AND RETAILERS

The general public suffered because the . retailer and manufacturer had not “got together.” That was their business. It was no use standing in opposite corners and smiting each other while the public .suffered, instead of helping each other along. The Gov-ernor-General had said, “Patriotism begins at borne,” and if they were more practical there would not be the need for so much organised charity. Notwithstanding that there had been an increased yield in butter-fat there was more unemployment. That showed there was something wrong somewhere. The cry was to put the people on the land, but all the people were not fit to go on tlie land, which required a man to be able to work without direction. A great many of the unemployed could be employed in industry, where a reasonable amount of intelligence could be made use of under direction. She asked whether it would not be better to pay these people if they were organised to do productive work than to pay them for doing uneconomic relief work. It was time people realised that it was vitally important that the money they spent went to pay the wages of workers here instead of those in some other country. (Applause).