LOCAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 13

LOCAL INDUSTRY

FOSTERING OUR OWN GOODS.

The importance. of fostering local industry was stressed by several speakers in the House of Representatives last night.

Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), in urging the extension of manufacturing in New Zealand, said he wished to impress on the Minister of Industries and Commerce that great countries like the United States had built up their extraordinary prosperity by giving encouragement to and fostering local * industry. . ' # ' Mr. W. A,. Veitch (Wanganui) referred to the possibilities of building up the secondary industries, which he said were going to be the salvation of the country and of the primary producers. They must have a Government which would infuse soma enthusiasm in the people to wear locally-made clothes and patronise local industry generally. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) pointed to 6ome anomalies in the use of imported articles where locally made goods should be used. He expressed surprise that Buch a lot of imported material was used which could be made in the Dominion. We were sending our wool out of the country to be made up, and we then imposed a heavy duty on the made-up article when it came tack to us. Surely we should be making our own woollen goods. Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn) said he hiid made a point for years of wearing locally-made boots, and ho thought everyone should do likewise.

Tlio suggestion was made by Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) Ihat the Department of Industries and Commerce should set an example by furnishing its offices with New Zealand-made articles. For instance, first-class carpets were being made in New -Zealand, and these should be used on. the floors.

The Minister (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) stated that the Department was endeavouring to impress the public in every possible way with the need for using New Zealand-made articles. Mr. Holland: "Including coal?" "Including coal," said Mr. Anderson.