PRIME MINISTER Congratulates Manufacturers

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 5 (Supplement)

PRIME MINISTER Congratulates Manufacturers

Continuing, Mr .Forbes says; In this connection I congratulate the organisers of the “ Made in New Zealand Week ” upon their initiative in again undertaking the work of stimulating public interest in the varied products of the dominion’s factories. .

Through the medium of comprehensive displays in approximately 400,0 f the principal shop windows, I understand that the shopping public is to he afforded a special opportunity of judging the quality, price, and wide range of New Zea-land-made goods. May I, therefore, take this opportunity of urging the people of Dunedin and the surrounding district to support the efforts of the organisers of the “ Week ” by viewing tho special displays that arc to be made, and, furthermore, to support the pojicy

Mr Forbes writes—“ Any effort which has for its object the fostering and the support of New Zealand’s Manufacturing Industries must be warmly welcomed a,nd commended, for constant effort is necessary to stimulate the people to the observance of a definite policy of buying NEW ZEALAND-MADE Goods wherever possible.”

which that “ Week ” is intended to advocate—namely, [ho policy of purchasing New Zealand-made goods whenever possible'.’

It cannot he denied that in the past many people have been prejudiced against locally-made goods, and have given an undue preference to the products of overseas manufacturers. Although this prejudice has to some extent been removed as a result of much excellent propaganda work carried out by manufacturers’ associations, chambers of commerce, and the Press of the dominion during the past few years, nevertheless still further efforts are essential if our manufacturing industries are to be enabled to develop side by side with our primary industries, and'if those industries are to he enabled to absorb our growing population in profitable employment.

It is indeed to our manufacturing industries that we must look more and more in the future to provide employment, since it has become apparent, as the result of the restrictive policies adopted by many overseas countries, that the volume of production of our principal primary exports cannot be expanded indefinitely. The importance both from the individual and the national point of view of purchasing New Zealand-made goods on every possible occasion is therefore readily seen and understood. I wish the efforts of the organisers of the special displays every success..