DISPLAY OF LOCAL GOODS

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 4

DISPLAY OF LOCAL GOODS

11 MADE IN NEW ZEALAND WEEK " THE PUBLIC TO PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT In order to give the purchasing public' an opportunity of judging for itself the quality of the goods that can be manufactured within tho dominion, the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association willingly assisted by the retailers, has in the past organised many fine special displays, for tho most part taking the form a series of small window exhibitions of a week's duration. In previous years much success has been attained in this direction, but it is certain that no such movement has been carried out on such a gigantic scale as that commencing next week. Actually 204 shops will display as conspicuously as possible the respective articles pertaining to their business which arc tho products of local industry. This largo total includes drapers, grocers, chemists, sellers ot footwear, furniture makers, ironmongers, stationers, leather goods manufacturers, painters, confectioners, and tobacconists.

The main object of tho display is to allow citizens to compare from an impartial point of view tho quality and prices of New Zealand goods with those of overseas manufacturers, “Voluntary preference” is the keynote, and there is no suggestion of any attempt to force local products on to the purchaser. They who have eyes to see, let them see,. If they are satisfied that New Zealand-made articles are as good as any others, let them remember this slogan when they wish to buy: “My the Empire next, foreigners last.” MANNEQUINS TO APPEAR.

Quite a novel feature of next week’s “New Zealand-made” display will be the mannequin parades of two groups of girls, who wifi appear on the stage before the public for the first time. The D.I.C. and Arthur Barnett’s, Ltd,, will be represented. This original display is on© of the many being organised in support of the Manufacturers’ Association’s big movement, and its outstanding significance is that the dress materia’, in use is to be essentially New Zealand manufacture, from the raw material to the fin’’shed garment. In cases where furs are worn, thus necessitating the use of imported skins, the only skins which are to be shown are those dyed in New Zealand. As regards woollens, worsteds, and tweeds, all products of dominion workmanship, the following mills will be represented:— Roslyn, Mosgiel. Bruce, Oamaru, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Wanganui, Wellington. Rosedale, and Onehunga. Messrs Arthur Barnett’s mannequins will appear at the Empire Theatre next week on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and those of the D.I.C. on Friday, Saturday, and the following Monday.