NATIONAL INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 8

NATIONAL INDUSTRIES.

ENCOURAGEMENT BY WOMEN

(By D.M.S.)

The Winter Exhibition makes this a particularly suitable time to remind New Zealand women of the tremendous importance of fostering industrial effort in this country. In the housemother's hands lies a large part of the spending power of the country ; bv her choice she may make or mar the success of struggling New Zealand industrial enterprise. New Zealand, with her mineral wealth, her wool, dairy and orchard resources, could supply most of her "own needs." U.S.A. long ago grasped the necessity for protecting her national industries, and put a tariff wall round them; and the U.S.A. housewife must buy U.S.A. products or pay heavy duty. The result is that U.S.A. industrials have gone up by leaps and bounds and her surplus is dumped in other countries, thereby throttling their progress.

Women of New Zealand have long ago had the vote, which means that they have been considered capable of helping the evolution of their country. Now is the time we women can show ourselves worthy of that trust; let us resolve now to be our own tariff wall against foreign goods—let us each take the trouble to help forward our present industries and encourage others to start. Let us resolve never- to use a foreign article if there is a New Zealand or British one to bo had. If we are not satisfied with what our national manufacturers are supplying it should not be difficult to get in touch with them and put the matter before them; they are doubtless anxious to satisfy local needs and so create a larger demand. The great problem in the near future will be what to do with our young people. They will be armed with splendid qualifications in various directions, but with no outlet to make profitable use of their powers. Here we see the necessity for fostering national industries, suitable and lucrative openings for our boys and girls as they leave school. There -is a great cry for a larger population and there is a great need for it, but until we have industries to absorb all the labour available it is absurd to import more. Under. this head, in the larger view of those who think in terms of Empire, the time will come when nations with teeming populations and without room for expansion will look round for empty spaces; 'arid by. the-force of numbers, and necessity, which knows no law, will take them and . fill them. We Britons should look to it that our spaces on this side of the world are filled up by the surplus from the old. stock, otherwise we shall not have the force of numbers nor the -right of necessity to keep out alien stock.