LOCAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 8

LOCAL INDUSTRY

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—l notice with interest the attitude the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association is taking up with regard to the tender called for the Wellington Show, in which Oregon timber is. specified. The manufacturers are to be congratulated upon the stand they are tiaking, and I sincerely hope that they will not weaken. It seems strange that the Wellington Show Asso-.. ciation should particularly specify Oregon timber, when our own mills are able to produce o.b. rimu at a cost not exceeding the imported. A substantial order such aa called for would give a fair amount of employment for a class of men who are in particular need of it. , Oregon conies from America, and surely, everyone here knows that, whilst we are great importers of American goods, far too great indeed, America purchases very little from us. So instead of seeking further importations from such a country we should, instead, endeavour to curtail them, and use local manufacture whenever possible. Our sawmillers' greatest competitor is America, and it surely is a Show Association's duty to assist local industry in preference. It is the New Zealand manufacturing section that has made the Show Association's efforts as attractive ns they have been, and it is the public of New Zealand that has supported the Show Association, so I sincerely trust the manufacturers will be successful in their effort t to avert what is clearly an injury.to an important section of our communuity.— I am, etc., TIMBER WORKER.