"BRITISH MADE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10034, 3 May 1910, Page 4

"BRITISH MADE."

Another link in the chain of Em' pire was forged in London recently when a representative meeting of business men and manufacturers decided, with an unusual display of enthusiasm, to form an association to fight for the supremacy of British goods in British markets, and endeavour to suppress the fraudulent methods adopted by many continental firms which pass off foreign-made articles ad British. The first step towards the consummation so devoutly to be desired will be the adoption of an "All-British" trade mark, tha use of which will only be allowed on goods which are entirely of British manufacture. The honesty and integrity of Home firms have availed through all the stress and strife of unequal foreign competition to place the name ol British productions beyond reproach. Their origin is their guarantee, and unscrupulous foreigners, despairing of ever being able to meet their wares on equal terms in the market arena, have extensively adopted the practice of cloaking the deficiencies of their own products by stealing the good name won for British articles. It was related by the chairman of tne London Chamber of Commerce that many of the bestknown brands of British goods were sn ingeniously copied and marked, that the public were constantly deceived into buying foreign-made articles while fully believing that they had bsen manufactured at Home. Canada is already experiencing the benefit of making a stand against the dishonesty of foreigners. "Made in Canada" (the phrase was brought prominently under notice at the exhibition held in Christcburch some three years ago) is proving most efficacious in promoting the welfare of the manufacturing indus- I tries of the Dominion. Something' t of j the same sort has been contended for in Aujtralia, but the agitation has hot met with a very large measure of success, for the same raason that would apply in the casa of New Zea

land. Neither country depends very largely upon its manufactures. The primary productions, sueb as wool, meat, grain and minerals, occupy the largest space in Australasian commercial activity, and dishonest foreign competition is not given a very wide margin for its successful I exercise. Wo do not know, however, that Argentine meat extensively palmed off spon the British public as New Zealand, and that the best of our agricultural implements are I largely copied; but these are minor details compared with what the British manufacturer has t« suffer at the hands of his unscrupulous rivals. The "All-British" trade-mark, therefore, is a welcome adaitioa to tbe armoury of Imperial weapons. i ~~