“BUY N.Z. MADE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 9

“BUY N.Z. MADE”

INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION RAIN MARS FIRST NIGHT If the New Zealand-made Preference League were not an optimistic body, its spirits would have been considerably dampened by the deluge of rain that followed the official opening of the Exhibition of Dominion manufactures by the mayor yesterday. The display, which is housed in a small canvas town which practically covers the Civic Square, is open until 10 p.m. every night, but last night only a very few hardy spirits braved the elements to learn something of what their country produces. The field covered by the Exhibition is a particularly comprehensive one, and it would be an almost impossible mental feat to think of anything manufactured in New Zealand that has not been included. To-day’s bright sunshine shed a glow of hopefulness among the tents in the Civic Square, and the attendance tonight should be more encouraging. Although it is only a month since the league was founded, the magnificent display is an excellent indication of the rate at which it has progressed. The first big step to educate the New Zealand public how few of the necessities of everyday life cannot be manufactured in New Zealand has been made. The old saying about the prophet in his own country might well be applied to manufactures. The foreign article seems always to find preference to the home-grown or home-made article, for no . other reason, apparently, than that it is “Made in U.S.A.” or some other place—anywhere, in fact, but New Zealand. There is no reason in the world why an intelligent public should not be educated up to the point of seeing the harmful effect of money that can ill be spared being poured out to foreign markets —money that should go to the building up of our own industries, providing work for our unemployed, and for thousands more from Home who are only too anxious to migrate to the Dominion, and take their share in developing this growing country. It is with this object in view that the present Industrial Fair has been organised. The League however is not limiting its activities to this by any means. Country people who have not the opportunity of seeing such displays in the big centres are being catered for by a special train —a veritable exhibition on wheels —that is to be run through both islands during the next few months, spreading the slogan “Buy New Zealand-made Goods” to the remotest corners of the Dominion, and bearing with it pimple proof of what there is to buy.