CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 147, 30 September 1910, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND. In order to stimulate New Zealand industry, the Hon. J. A. Millar proposes that articles "made in New Zealand" shall be branded to that effect. As has been pointed out (before, the average buyer is not guided by any feeling of loyalty when he purchases an article. He does not discard it because of its 'home if it is a good article and cheap at the price asked. The Wellington- Industrial Association at a late meeting discussed the matter and opinions varied as to the value of the proposed brand. The president went so far as to say that to brand articles 'made in New Zealand would be like showing a red rag to a bull, and intimated that in some cases. it wouldi lead 'to* their rejection. He instanced the case of candles manufactured in New Zealand, and said that there would be little Ibusiness dtone if the buyers knew they were New Zealand goods, although why this should be so he did not explain. Another member said that the branding would ibe derogatory to the woollen mills in New Zealand because they import "shoddy" from Home and use it up. If they had to brand this sort of thing "Made in New Zealand" it would hurt them. If it will stop the importing of "shoddy" the average citizen should ibe very glad indeed. One other member seemed to hit the nail lon the head by pointing out that as the ' larger proportion of people in New Zealand were British born they were naturally prejudiced in favor of goods imported from Britain. He also said that if New Zealand produced goods equal in value to those imported into tihis country and sold them as cheaply, tlhere would be no difficulty in the matter. There must be some grounds for the' general

complaint that much of the foodstuffs and other articles manufactured in Now Zealand are not up to the standard of the imported articles, but we do not think there is any ground for an assertion that people "'shy" at the name of New Zealand on goods. It is merely a question of quality and price to the buyer, and if New Zealand manufacturers can be proud of the name on their goods there is no reason why they should not label everything tihe country turns out. If the New Zealand manufacturer is ashamed of what he produces the compulsory laJbel may make him mend Ins ways. If he is not ashamed, he may fall in with the idea.