DAY OF OPPORTUNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1939, Page 3

DAY OF OPPORTUNITY

DEMANDS ON NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURERS

RESPONSI Bl LITi ES REALISED.

CASTING OFF INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. ‘’The eyes of New Zealand are on our manufacturing industries and the prominence given to us lately in rather embarrassing but certainly pleasing to us,” said the president of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association, Mr W, H. Steven, when speaking at the opening of the association’s new home, Manufacturers' Chambers, yesterday. “We realise our responsibilities and will do cur utmost in co-operation with our workpeople to ensure that our living conditions are maintained to reasonable standards.” Manufacturers had battled for many years to secure recognition from the public of the importance to the coun-

try as a whole of buying goods which were made in New Zealand, Mr Stevens said. Now the responsibility of supplying the needs of the people in manufactured goods had been suddenly thrust on them and they must, if they were to do their duty, take up the work in no uncertain manner. “For many years we have rightly talked with pride about the excellence of our primary products, and we have held them out as an example to the world,” Mr Stevens continued. “The time has now come for the public to take an interest in our manufacturing products, to buy them, to use them, to be proud of them, because they are of undoubted quality, because the prices are reasonable, and because they are made by New Zealanders. “Is it suggested that our manufacturing establishments are inefficient and that the New Zealand workman and woman are inferior to the work-peo-ple of other countries? I don't think so. We have merely been suffering from an inferiority complex. Many of the products of New Zealand factories cannot be bettered in any part of the world. In many other lines we can more than hold our own as far as quality is concerned. Some interested people with an axe to grind would have the public believe that New Zealand goods were more expensive to buy than imported brands. That was not always correct. More often the prices of New Zealandmade goods had kept the prices of imported goods down to competitive levels. Even if local products could not compete by a small percentage with certain overseas products, did they want their people to exist under the same conditions as prevailed in those countries? Certainly not. Then the public would’ surely be prepared to pay a fair price for New Zealand-made goods which, had been manufactured under the splendid conditions which prevailed in most New Zealand factories. ■■To the manufacturers I would, therefore, say that the opportunity is now at cur door and that opportunity knocks but one." Mr Stevens said. "See to it. therefore, that you individually take up your responsibilities, make your factories still more eflicient. ensure that the wants of the public are properly supplied, and sell your goods at your cheapest prices consistent with good working conditions. and a reasonable return for the capital investor."