THE BUYER'S CHOICE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 102, 27 October 1931, Page 11

THE BUYER'S CHOICE

HE CAN PREFER HOME- •■■•"■■ MADE

If. .the", actual employer of labour is the buyer, of goods produced, by that j labour, then is it not in the hands of every "buyer .of New Zealand-made goods to. help (o feabsorb in useful industry/those men now on relief work? That is.the key to tho national acl-j vcrtisirig- appeal to tho public to buy Nctf'^ealaiicl-mndc goods. The appeal to pr.ofcl\!New Zealand goods is through messages signed by His, Excellency the Governor-General and political .party leaders.' . Recognising the notional im-j portanccof rcabsorbing labour in industry at standard wages, the Unemployment Board considered that it is justified in spending an amount in advertising on lines somewhat similar to those employed by Canada last year. To indicate the importance of New Zealand industries as providing work and a livelihood for the people of New Zenland tho following statistics- arc quoted: — For the year ended. 31st March, 1930, 85,797 persons were employed in our factories, and the wages paid wore £17,621,464 per annum, or £56,260 per dry. Tho growth of these industries has lieen remarkable even when a survey is made, over a comparatively short space of time. In 1806, only 35 years ago, the wages paid were £1,907,592, but this amount would only bo sufficient to pay.the workers in 1930 for six weeks. In 189G the total value of products was £9,549,360; this amount in 1030 was produced, in five weeks. The number of establishments has increased from 2459 in 1806 to 5177 in 1930. It rests with the purchaser whether lie will give employment to the workers of New Zealand by buying tho loe.nl factories' products, or whether ho will purchase tho imported article.