AN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 11

AN AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY.

WORLD COMPETITION,

(By Ariel.)

.Manufacturers' A\'eck in Sydney rc : voaled many surprises, surprises which will no doubt have the effect of breaking down those old-timo prejudices against ■ things Australian. A few years ago, it was considered almost a crimoto bo seen wearing or even eating articles of colonial manufacture. Goods to be considered of any importance were obliged to'bear the stamp of importation. To many persons, even tlie stamp of "Made in Germany" was .preferable to that of '.'Made in Australia."' Since tho inauguration of theCommonwealth, however, these- ideas are gradually being - relegated to th«> 'dust-heap. Australia' for the Australians is .the national cry. Hence if h that local industries arc now , receiving that support which they so justly daserve.

During Manufacturers' Week in Sydney, : shops wero displaying goods ;of almost every description, which bore ,the proud device , , "Made in Australia. ,, lit. comes ■ as ■ a great rovelation. , Australia has awakened! Silo was now competing with the outer world. Crowds of- curious onlookers gazed in wonder at-the various articles in the windows. Here were noods which most of them had: been using in the fond belief that they wore thp imported article.

Possibly, however, that .which comes as one of the greatest surprises to the feminine mind was the glorious display of- artificial flowers' esliibitfd by the Flowers - .Manufacturing Co. Thero were flowers of all kinds, flowers of all colours, in velvet, silk, and cotton. Blooms' so cunningly devised as to al-most-rival nature herself—and those were madu in Sydney I There arc few branches of ornamental work used in the adornment of -woman's apparel which have increased more in importance, than nrtiOcihl flowers, iu the manufacture of which a largo number of persons arc employed both in Franco nnd England; Not only his the trade itself , greatly extended within the last few years, but the improvement in the manufacture, is very Jnarked, so truly and delicately is nature imitated.