LOCALLY MADE GOODS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4841, 15 June 1925, Page 4

LOCALLY MADE GOODS.

GBAMOPHONES FOR SCHOOLS. DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. The action of the Education Department in accepting tenders for imported gramophones far use in the primary schools was roundly criticised at the meeting of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association last week, and it was decided to cooperate with New Zealand manufacturers in arranging a deputation to the Ministers of Education and Industries and Commerce.

A communication from a local firm placed the matter before the meeting. “You may’ have noticed,” they wrote, “that recently the Education Department called for tenders for gramophones for use in the primary schools, and that the tenders accepted were for imported instruments. We trust you will be able to see what a tremendous injury this is to New Zealand secondary industries in general. It seems hardly possible that the effect upon the young by the Department's can do other than stimulate the detsire for imported as against locally-made goods. We need hardly point out that the encouragement of the use of New Zealand made articles is of vital importance to the industries and to the Dominion itself, and that a severe blow has been dealt to both these latter by the department. Secondary industries have, in the main, naw to find employment for the parents of the children, and later on for the children themselves. We believe that much manufactured in New Zealand, including gramophones, is the equal of the World’s best, and we have a suspicion that in the present instance dumping prices are a contributing factor in the imported articles being selected. It is possible that a remission of Customs duties on the imparted instruments might be applied for, and we trust youg association can take steps to prevent such being granted. We trust your association will see the seriousness of this matter from the point of secondary industries in general.” The chairman (Mr L. T. Watkins)

expressed the conviction that locallymanufactured gramophones were the equal of any imported machines, atad said he knew that the New Zealand makers would be quite prepared to match their instruments with foreign products. The association should use its influence to sec that the New Zealand article was used, provided that it could be made at the cost of landing the imported machine and was af the same quality.

Mr L. R. Partridge said that New Zealand was becoming a nation of traders rather than of manufacturers. It seemed a serious matter indeed, it one branch of national education was advocating the training of youths to trades while .another branch, as indicated by the letter before the meeting, was making it impossible for those boys to follow their occupations. “To-day,” he continued, “we are training technical and scientific labour, and I am well informed when I say that the schools do nat know where they are going to place these youths. The professions are becoming the same as they were in 1891, when it was possible to get accountancy and clerical work done for practically nothing. ... It is not a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence, but a matter of general benefit to the Dominion, that locally-made goods should be fostered. It is a matter of the livelihood af the people. Even if the articles cost a little more we would still be employing the labour in the Dominion and, as .well, spending the money here.”

Mr F. W. Vosselei- considered that the condemnation of the New Zealand article and the preference for the imported must make a big impression on children, and parents as well.

It was mentioned that the Wellington Education Board had decided in favour of locally-manufactured instruments.

The chairman said that the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association was behind the. gramophone manufacturers of New Zealand in the matter, and was willing to help them to secure recognition for their products.

It was decided to recommend the gramophone manufacturers to ornagisc a deputation to the Ministers of Education and of Industries and Commerce.

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