LOCAL INDUSTRIES WEEK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 204, 18 August 1908, Page 4

LOCAL INDUSTRIES WEEK.

SCHOOL UtlLDlttA'S ESSAYS.

COUNTRY SCHOOL WINNERS.

The winning essays iu the "Local industries Week" essay competition lor pupils of country schools are published below in full:—

SENIORS. FIRST PIUZK: IUENE K. WYLUE, 12 years 10 months, Waitara School:—

"Made in Germany.' Only a lewyears back what a nightmare this cry was to the British manufacturer. Article after article bore the imprint. Here it was ironware, there ,aucv goods; even our pencil rubbers confronted us with' the term. Whether it "was the drastic .action of the English Government or tile efforts of'the British manufacturer, or the spirit of' patriotism born of tne Boer war, 1 do not know, but that reproach is now almost wiped out, and •'.Made in Germany" Bias been supplanted by "Made in England"—a change which" we, members of the Empire, should 'welcome, aud now, as true Nuw Zealanders, we hail the efforts that are being made to bring nearer home and to give to "Made in New Zealand" its true significance, and to New Zealand productions their real aud . natural importance. This was the aim of Industry Week. - The paroclhial spifit seems" to be drawing its bonds closer and closer each year; and we should give preference 'to local productions before those of foreign' lauds. When we patronise our own productions we patronise ourselves, and "Charity oegius at jiome.' The idea of an exhibition which originated—some iclaiiu in Wellington, some in Christchurch— was readily taken up by the New Plymouth Uiuuuber of Commerce and storekeepers, and football week was tlis date fixed upon. Perhaps the most unique and original of -all exhibits was Mat ot a tiny white Yorkshire porker in a tidy straw lined sty. But it was only an introduction to the next window. Hams (little and big), sides of bacon, aud lard nicely got up in many-coloured skins —red, white, olaek, blue, and yellow—showed what one of New Zealand's industries ca-a do. The next window was devoted to bottled goods. Gooseberries, cherries, and pickles were tastefully displayed. Another grocer dealt with miscellaneous goods. In one window pickles, butter, jams, honey, and otlher small things were placed, while tne other window was filled with pile upon pile of cheeses altogether making a ton. .Some were as old as three years, well ripened enough to Suit the taste of the most critical judge. ✓ Yet another decorated ihis iwiudpw with biscuits and confectionery. The daintiest wafer and the plainer kind of biscuit were placed side by side, each being garnished with a striking centrepiece of artiflcal flowers. The other window had a nice exiliibit of the Sentry Hill Hour-mill's work, the background being bag after bag of Hour, and the effect being heightened by n Small mirror® rellecting the different processes of flour-making. In the drapery establishments warm blankets, handsome dress pieces (black, blue, and grey), tweeds of all patterns and designs, and nice costumes were very enticing to the ladies' eyes. The bootmaker also presented a nice display to the public, one having a model of a torpedo destroyer, and another of the s.s. Manai and a flsli of curious shape to brighten it. Black, tan, and white boots and shoes were placed side by side; the great watertight, splendidly suited for the cowyard, and the tiny baby shoe, even a delicate pair of pale blue evening shoes were placed under the heading "Made in New Zealand."

There were many other exhibits - stationery, printing, ironware, and furniture—some very handsome pieces. For so young a country tlie exhibit was very good, but it was only a heginningl, and as we strolled from win dow to window we seemed to have a glimpse into the future. And what a future! We saw New Zealand a great country, self-supported and self-support-ing, her rivers, issuing from the Alps, harnessed and obedient to man; we saw New Plymouth, her harbor completed, and foundries scattered along her shores, beautiful, great, and prosperous.

SECOND PRIZE: M. ZOLLINGER, 13 years 7 mouths, Omata:— _ the present (lay tiic greater portion of the goods sold in New Zealaud are imported from abroad. If we wish our country .to become rich and prosperous this should not be. Wo shou'd endeavor to keep our money as much as possible in the Dominion instead of sending it away to other countries. If the New Zealanders were a little more patriotic by showing a preference for goods made iu the Dominion the shopkeepers woidd keep a greater supply of these goods. As it is, they see that most people put more value 011 goods made in England and America than those made here. It would not, therefore, pay them tu patronise New Zea-' laud made goods} more than others. The New Zealanders must learn faith ; iu their country before it can llouruh as it should. If we were to compare the late exhibit of New Zealand-inade goods, in the windows of the New Plymouth shops, with the produce of other countries, we should find that in most cases they could ibe' compared very favorably. Tiie windows of the drapers' shops showed a grand display of costumes and overcoats made at Petone and the Roslyn mills, of .rugs and blankets made at Ivaiapoi ; and of collars, hats and ties of every d - scription, all of which must have attracted an eager crowd of buyers. The ' windows of the grocers' shops were ar-. ranged with special taste, that of Carter's being the most attractice. In it I were set out in grand array, bacons and harng cured at the Ingle wood bacon fac- j tory and which had taken first prize at the Palmerston Show; tins of jam and preserved fruits, made and tinned at Kirkpatrick's factory, and packets of well-preserved lard. The window of Deare, the bootmaker, was well filled with every kind of boot and shoe from the frail but beautiful dancing shoe to the strong though ugly working boot, all of which were manufactured at the Egmont Boot and Shoe Factory. Mv. Dingle's window was full of sofas, chairs, and various pieces of well.-finish-ed bedroom furniture. Okey, Son and Arnold had on show the various brandies of hardware from their foundry, as patent hinges, wire strainers, and some of the smaller farm implements. Sykes. the chemist, showed a good exhibit of medicines of every kind, as drugs, cow drenches, and ointments. The object of this grand exhibit ••f New Zealand-made goods was to try and convince the people of their good uuality. It is to !>e hoped that that object will be achieved and that the manufactures will become greater and more extensive. This further manufacturing would give employment to hundreds of people, and the country wouid become more thickly populated and more important until in time it would be able to export large quantities < f goods. Till 111)' PRIZE: ALBERT RICHARD BAYLY, 13 years, Omata:— New Zealauders are apt to think that, because their coimlry is a young oiu. tile manufactures turned out are not nearly ao good a* the imported goods of older countries; but the display of New Zealand and locally-made goods i » the New Plymouth shop windows hK week was enough to show the observant that the Dominion and even local manufacturers are able to turn out goods that will hold their own against any imported ones. Local people do not .fully patronise locally-made guod>. which are nearly always as guod as, i!' not better than, those of other Ne'-v Zealand centres. If we can get locallymade goods cheaper than imported oms or those of other New Zealaud centres, the manufacturer is fully entitled t-j the preference of our buying, especially if he, as he generally docs, gives irs a high price for our butter, cheese, mid other products of our own industry. Local people should be awakened io tintact that locally-made goods are. in Ihri end, better than other-, and thai oth;-r| province* of the Dominion are enrich-j. ing Iheinselves at Taranaki's expense. I Sir -ends all her iall-'W away to Wel-[ liugNm l<> 1»- made into soap. whm *1 ■ < could be converted just a- w«»ll here,and so employ local labor and benefit J the di.-trie*; by keeping the money iu «L i

Although we have sash and door, boot, clothing, and furniture factories, r.n iron foundry, manufacturing, druggists, and printing establishments, we might easily li'iyi) soap, candle, and biscuit factories, if the New Plymouth people took a little more interest in their town.

A run round the New Plymouth shops last week would have shown us nearly all the New Zealand manufactures, which are just as good in style, quality, and finish as those of other countries. In ilr. Carter's window Mas a grand display of_ bacon and hams which had been cured by the Inglewood Bacon Factory Company, which took lirst prize for bacon at the Palmerston Show in IUU7. In this window also was an e.\- ■ cellent display of Nelson-made jams, pickles, and preserves of every possible description. The manufacturers were Kirkpatrick and Co., who have perhaps the largest business in this line in New Zealand. The next shop of notice was Mr. Dingle's, where a quantity of localiymade bedroom furniture was shown. This furniture was made of rimu and kauri, -in the same window was a quantity of Auckland-made cane chairs and sofas. In Mr. "Broome's window tin locally-made Prestwell clothing showed out prominent!)', and there was besides this a quantity of locally-made umbrellas and underclothing and a number of Petone-made blankets and rugs. In the Melbourne Clothing Company's window was a grand display of New Zea-land-made clothing, consisting ol ties jf every hue (enticing not only the most fastidious white man, but also the gayest Maori), tin trunks, portmanteaux, shirts, collars, studs, boots, and J Kaiapoi, Mosgiel, Ouchunga, and Pctonemade underclothing, rugs, and blankets. Air. Hayden's winitow contained a ben .i----tiful lot of bedroom sets of kauri and other timbers, besides an excellent lot of sofas and couches, all beautifully covered and padded. Another interesting window display was seen at Jlr. Best ford's, where umbrella making and repairing is carried on extensively. Mr. Bellringer's window contained -large and varied assortments of ironmongery, consisting of hooks, slashers, axes, scythes, tomahawks, shovels, picks,• and stove ranges. Then, too, there was in the same window a beautiful collection • f oil and water paintings, Mr. Whitaker's window contained a line lot of Aulscbrook's biscuits of every kind, besides tinned meats, jams, preserves, egg preservatives, lemon-peel, and baking powders. Then we must not forget the mouth-watering contents of Waugh's window, which contained confectionery of every description. As we cannot describe every shop iu detail, we must conclude with mentioning a few of the* more important shop displays, which include the important ironmongery shop of Messrs. Okey, Son, and Arnold's, the bookbinding and printing of Avery's, the tailoring of Cocker's, and the dyeing of Newman's.

JUNIORS. FIRST PRIZE: IVY EAIIP, 10 years, Eginont Village:— During the past week most of the tradespeople in New Plymouth displayed in their siiop window's goods of colonial manufacture, including drapery, boo's and shoes, groceries, saddlery, furniture, ironmongery, etc. The object of this is to show that New Zealand can produce such a large number of splendid goods without having to import such goods from England or elsewhere. The display in drapery was very extensive, most of it being manufactured at the Petone, Kaiapoi, Roslyn, Mosgiel, and Onehunga woollen mills froin wool grown in the Dominion. From these mills rugs, blankets, flannels, hosiery, hats and caps, silk, cotton and woollen underwear, dress materials, oven-oats and jackets, suits, costumes, etc., were displayed by Messrs. Morcy, I'ellew, Amburv, White, Morcy and Moore, Blythe, and Herbert. ■Mr. White arranged Mosgiel rugs, blankets, and flannels to represent a bushnian's hut. Other special features in his windows were "Diamond" suits aud Standard shirts. Mr. J. Bestford had on view a large assortment of umbrellas and sunshades of his own make. There was a splendid collection of boots aud shoes ill lace, button-up, and strap, both black and tan, as well as the heavier make, to' be seen at the A.B.C. Boot Shop, Deare's Boot Arcade, Mr. Dockrill's, and Messrs! Grayson and Cock's. A beautiful model of a tor-pedo-boat adorned Mr. Deare's window, and in Messrs. Grayson ami Cock's was the s.s. Mauani, made by Master I'eddie, of New Plymouth. There was a large variety of groceries exhibited, the chief of which were preserved goods, of which Jlr. Veal had a "jumble window" containing eighty different kinds.

Mr. Carter's extensive display iucludcd jams, pickles, canned fruit, etc., Iron New Zealand lactones, also a splendid collection of hams and bacon from the liiglcwnud J>acon luictyry. Skins of lard colored yellow and blade, also red, while, ami blue, representing tlie Taranaki and Jijiglish t*ootl»all colors, made a pretty etf'ect. in the corner was a little white pig representing Captain Cook. In one of .Mr. AVJiilaker's windows were brau, pollard, and Hour from Messrs.* J. Little and Co.'s Hour mill at Sentry Hill. The waking of the Hoar from tlic wheat was shown in thirteen different processes.

There was a good display of saddlery at T. King and Co.'s, including portmanteaux, travelling bags, and trunkj, saddles, and harness o£ all kinds. • Some beautiful furniture, made from New Zealand woods was displayed, including bedsteads, waslistands, etc. Tho "Red Post" showed a handsome Chesterfield drawing-room suite made of kauri, stuffed with horsehair, and covered wrui velvet and saddlebags, also anotne,' pretty suite of three pieces in silk and plush, a dining-room suite, a kauri Cheval dressing table, and a totara washstand with a New Zealand niarbb top. People were astonished to find that so many things could be made in little New Zealand.

SECOND PIUZE; CHAKLES A. EVANS, 11 years 2 months, Omata: — Some people are apt .to think that, as New Zealand' is a young country, its manufactures are not up to older one;. This, however, is not the case, for we. have all kinds of factories and other works in New Zealand and make goods just as easily, just as attractive, and just as well as any other country. During the week that the .British footballers visited Taffanaki a grand display of New Zealand-made goods wt.s exhibited in the shop windows of New Plymouth. Let us now visit some if the chief shop windows in turn. J jet us begin at Carter's well known grocer's shop, llere was displayed bacon in all stages from the pig iu the pen to the bacon when cured and ready for u»e. There were also many packets of lard and also numerous fruits, pickles, and Kirkpatrick's jams. In Dingle's window was a large amount of furniture, perambulators, baskets, and all. kinds of wicker work. In "The Kash'' were umbrellas and clothing. Arrayed in .Vlr. Pcllew's window were any amount of underclothes and blankets. in the Melbourne were f'etoiic clothes of all descriptions, portmanteaux, different colored ties, boots, studs, and soaps. Displayed iu ilayden's window were beautiful pieces of furniture, such as sofas, carpets, and all kinds of chairs and glassware. In Newman's window were different kinds of meeds and trousers. We must not furget to mention Scott's window, where were sausages, meat pies, and ham's, which looked so refreshing to any hungry person passing outside. In lieilringcr's window were stoves, buckets, supplejack baskets, iron-stands, slashers,

:;,rts. and tomahawks. There was a is in. display of things iu Okcy's wimloiv. ■ ohie of t In'mi being brooms, brushes, sl'i-her-., wire-.sLraine.rs, axes, and patent gate hinges. In Avery's window were memorial!! cards, playing cards, and innumerable books. Iu Vcalc's window there were biscuits, wax, honey, fruit ;, matches, candles, 'condensed milk, an.! i heeM'. Displayed in \\ hilaker's window were biseuiis, Hour, and dillerenl l inds of meals. Ju Kowe's shop were ail kinds of garden produce, such as seeds, vegetables, and manures. To end my short essay 1 shall here say that 1 think all New Zealauders ought to trade with their Dominion so (hat instead of sending money away from their country they would keep it in I heir country.