PREFERENCE TO N.Z. GOODS

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 6

PREFERENCE TO N.Z. GOODS

"AIL THINC-S BEING EQUAL.'' (To the Editor.) * In your issue of February 25 them appeared a letter, signed "C.H.N.'" This let ter contained a number of statements which I trust you will nhow me to correct. ,4 C H \ states: "Tile New Zealand Preference Leai™ wants people to buy only locally-made roods" etc. This, of course, is" absurd. No country is able to buy only locally-made uoods. Tit" New Zealand-made Preference League' asks the public to "give preference at alt* times to .New Zealand-m.ide goods and products, all things being equal, and never to make % purchase without stating. New Zealand-mada preferred." I am sure "C.H.XV' must acknowledge that there would be more prosperity in the country if we were able to show a credit trade balance each year instead, of a debit balance, which is yearly eating into our capital. What business could succeed if its expenditure was always greater than its income.' C .H.N. asks: 'What kind of money are we sending out of the Dominion ?" Goods and money are one and the same thing, and the only question that need worry us is* what part of those goods or that money can or should we keep here in the Dominion. I refer more especially to that part which is earned' in our raetories and paid out in wages every week to our workers. Is it nor. better to keen the money in the country and pav our own workers instead of paying the* workers in foreign and overseas countries? To-dav * ft are paying out in New Zealand over £300,000 every week, over i 1,i.000.000 annually, to those workers whom "C.H.N.'' would rather see bereft of their jobs. It you import goods from overseas that can be made here at tho same price and of the same quality, you ara robbing the industrial workers of 'New Zealand of their bread and butter. [do not agree with "C.H.N." for one moment when he states that the man who buys imported goods is helping the exporting producer, there is no comparison between the man who buys New Zealand-made goods and the man who merely imports. The one is building up his country, while the other is livinii unon it. The more goods we can make here the mora population we can absorb, who will consume the produce of the farmer. More factories mean more farms, and more farms mean mere factories. It is a bogy which obsesses the minds of a few, chiefly importers, that "if we did not buy foreign goods our exports would drop (eventually) to nothing." Our exports are controlled by the world's markets. It is i question of supply and demand and quality, and the seasons of the year play a big part in the disposal of our surplus produce" overseas. Our imports have nothing whatever to do with the consuming power of the world. No country can ever become great if it depends entirely upon its primary productions. I am sure the farmer who thinks deeply enough must realise that it is good business and goad patriotism. to support all New Zealand factories, which produce all such goods as ha requires and can obtain. W. H. HONEY. Organising Superintendent, New Zealand-mada Preference League.