UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Evening Star, Issue 19271, 9 June 1926, Page 11

UNEMPLOYMENT AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

TO. THE EDITOR. Sir, —1 bog to crave space to diacuss the question of unemployment from an aspect apart from those of the conflicting academic theorists who are opposing your correspondent, Mr John Gilchrist. I am of opinion that local unemployment in a country such as New Zealand, which is in its initial stages of development, can, by adapting ourselves to conditions, oven under capitalism, be staved off and mitigated. Unemployment is largely due to lack of patriotism in encouraging our local manufactured goods. Our High School authorities select a pattern "of school jersey, manufactured at St. Margaret’s, England, and sold at 9s 6d, that could be manufactured in New Zealand if a suitable pattern were selected. As about 680 boys attend the High School, about £323 that might bo spent in giving local employment is spent abroad. Another illustration is matches. If one asks for New Zealand matches in Dunedin ho is handed a box of Wellington matches. Yet in Dunedin there is a match factory employing many people. If all Dunedin people purchased Dunedin matches many more people would be employed, and ihsfr earnings spent in the ordinary channels of trade would increase trade to supply their demands. Perhaps the most striking illustration is the very fine brand of Navy cut pipe tobacco made in Napier, and sold at Is 3d per 2oz tin, or sixpence cheaper than the imported tobacco. I have induced many smokers to sample it, and those who have purchased it, like myself, have grown to relish it. Yet some tobacconists do not stock it. “ Suppose,” said I to a tobacconist, “ that a Chinaman had started a shop in opposition to you, and I bought the tobacco there, wbat would you think of me? ” “Not much,” ho said, with a look of disgust at,such, a suggestion. “Then,” said I, “ what is the difference between buying tobacco made in some foreign country and buying it from a foreigner? ” Take as another illustration clothes. We have some fine woollciy mills making excellent cloth. Prior to last municipal elections I purchased a suit with two pairs of trousers, made to measure, made out of Roslyu cloth. That suit is not worn out yet. The cost was £4 17s 6d, comparing favorably with any imported article. Prior to last General Election I bought a suit with one pair of trousers (Roslyn cloth) for £3 17s 6d. My experience is that the local clothing is cheaper than the imported. If everyone in Dunedin got over his prejudices and became patriotic enough to buy locally-made suits out of local cloth, more people would he employed, not only making cloth, but making suits. Lly experience is that local cloth, measured by value in wear, is cheaper than tho imported doth’. I can understand a wageearner with ft large family being compelled to buy in the cheapest market to make ends meet, but I cannot understand the many young men who search for employment in an imported costly suit, oblivions of tho fact that they have committed economic suicide and helped to create tho unemployment of which they are victims. One could give many illustrations of thoughtlessness, but the most striking is a recent tender to fit up the local new Trades Hall. Tho secretary of the Saw-millers’ Union drew attention to the fact that his saw-millers wore passing through a period of depression and experiencing unemployment, yet the Trades Hall Board of Trust innocently renovated the building with the imported Oregon pino. It is time some concerted action was taken to educate people to tho economic advantages in encouraging local industry, and bring home to them the folly of purchasing tho imported article when the local can be obtained as cheap or if not cheaper. Could a start be made with onr tradesmen, who shquld he urged to display to advantage the locally-made article? Teach them to understand that if more locally-made goods were retailed the employment given would result in much more wages being paid, and these would again be spent in making and supplying the varied requirements of tho workers employed, which means new customers. Here is a common ground on which manufacturers, retailers, and workers might meet, irrespective of political opinions and other conflicting economic interests that divide them into separate industrial and political organisations. The Expansion League, interested in developing our resources, might render good service by fostering pride in onr local industries, which will react beneficially in absorbing onr unemployed.— I am, etc., J. E. MacMakus. June 9.