THE WOMAN'S PART

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 8

THE WOMAN'S PART

BUY-BRITISH" HABIT

"The stimulation of demand for British cotton goods lies largely in the hands of the women," declared Mr. L. A. Paish, H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, when speaking .at the opening of the British, Empire Cotton Exhibition at James Smith's Corner yesterday • afternoon. "New Zealand is at the present time importing 12 per cent, of her cotton goods from countries other than Great Britain," he went on. "That does not sound much, but if the women were to get into the habit of asking every time: 'Is it British?' we could rely upon the merchants of this country.to see that they got what they asked for.?'

This view-was supported by Mr. A. P. Smith, managing director of James Smith, Limited, who said there was _a cry everywhere for Imperial Economic Conferences, and for Empire .trade treaties. "But in my opinion," he added, "when wo get down to bedrock, the whole question 'of Empire trade has to be threshed out between.the merchant and his customer. The people have only to demand British goods and they will get them. Wo have to give the customers, what they demand, and at the same time do our best to simulate the interest in British manufactures."