BUY NEW ZEALAND GOODS

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1938, Page 4

BUY NEW ZEALAND GOODS

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED. Prompt and enthusiastic support has been given by the leaders. of 250,000 organised workers to the appeal made on behalf of the Government by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to “Buy New Zealand-made, Goods.” In the statements published the workers’ organisations emphasise the paramount importance of giving the fullest support to goods produced in New Zealand by New Zealand workers. It affords me much pleasure to support the appeal of the Minister ol Industries and Commerce to the people of New Zealand to buy New Zea-land-made goods, says a statement issued by Mr L. Mcllvride, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society ol Railway Servants. Compliance with the appeal would have far-reaching and benelicial results to every man, woman and child in the Dominion.

Remember more purchases of New Zealand-made goods means more sales, more' sales means greater demands, greater demands more manufactures, aiid more manufactures greater production, thus stimulating New Zealand secondary industries and' linding employment for more , New Zealanders.

By thu s wholeheartedly supporting the Minister we can help to increaseprosperity in our country. ' I. . The N.Z. Clerical Employees’,.As-, sociation endorses the policy ,of /encouraging the purchase of New Zea-land-made goods, says a statement issued by the Association. Although it is realised that it Is neither possible nor desirable to stop the purchase of imported goods, it is now very necessary for us to import, in the form of raw materials, a larger proportion of the things we neecj, Clearly, however much we may want luxuries and semi-luxuries from overseas, the total value of goods of all kinds that we can import/ in any period is limited by our power to pay for them with exports. • v ■ Hence we should ensure that our necessarily. limited overseas purchasing power is devoted first to the raw materials and machinery-,we require to enable us to carry on New Zealand’s industrial life,; and only after that to the importation <b qf luxur'es th&t we can, without too great 'ship, do without. , , ’ The New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association of 10.500 members supports wholeheartedly the Government's policy of. planning for increased production.'anfi the extension of factories and equipment for extending the secondary industries carried on in the Dominion, states the general secretary, Mr J. H. McKenzie. < .

It is obvious, he said, that internal prosperity will be best promoted by the people making it a practice to buy New Zealand-made goods, and no section of the community should be more conscious of this fact than the wage-earners. New Zealand is one of the most favourably endowed countries in the world, and with planned development a much . larger population could be supported on a reasonably high standard of living, as compared with other countries. ' The primary industries upon which New Zealand has developed up to the present time are largely dependent upon an overseas market some 13;00(I miles away and for that reason they are limited in expansion and are not capable of supporting directly or in-

directly a much larger population or of raising the gtandard of living. How much ebetter • would it ue if seco'hdary industries were 1 to create a larger population, which, in turn, would constitute an increasing demand for New Zealand productions —both primary and secondary. In short, a country so richly endowed by nature could, and should, be supporting a much larger potation on a high standard of living, and the, present population should realise that it is in their power to support their present standards of living and give a fillip to development by endorsing in spirit and in practice the Government’s policy of "Buy New Zealand-made goods,” and so respond to the commendable appeal of the Minister of Industries and Commerce. In the last issue of the New Zealand "Shop Assistant” members were urged to at all times push goods manufactured in New Zealand, says a statement issued by Mr A. W. Croskery, general secretary of the N.Z. Shop Assistants’ Federation. Since then the Prime Minister and the Minister of Commerce have been calling for the best efforts of everybody to increase production. Shop .assistants can assist very substantially -in thi s appeal if they will on all occasions produce New Zealand articles which are in stock and press for their sale, as against all' others. ! W.b trUsf.that all'our members Avill rise to the occasion of this, appetu and support New Zealand articles, As by doing . so they assist in the employment of New' Zealand-bred men and’women. •■■-;•.- It is only., by increasing the Volume of our own industries that We can hopcUto a.chlev e those benefits which we look forward to in the The appeal of, the Hon. the Minister of Industries and Commerce to ■ the people throughout New Zealand ■ to give consideration when making purchases of Christmas presents to Select New Zealand-made goods, is one deserving of the highest commendation, states Mr F. D. Cornwell, national secretary of the N.Z. Federation of Labour. ' At this time of the year, much money Is spent on goods, not only for presents but for use by the purchaser, without the slightest consideration being given to the country of their origin, the conditions under which they are manufactured, and the effect that purchasing foreign-made goods has upon the people of their own country. . ■ ... If people will but give consideration to the appeal of the Minister, the’result will be increased employ-: ment for a large number of workers, it will prevent the reduction of staffs after the New Year, .which takes place in many branches of industry, and it . will be helping the Government in carrying out its policy of endeavouring to help the people of this country to its utmost ability. The New Zealand Federation of Labour in supporting the appeal of the Minister, is but continuing the work it inaugurated when it appealed to its Trades Councils throughout the country some months ago to cooperate with the manufacturers’ as? sociations in their respective districts; to engage in a campaign of purchasing New Zealand-made goods, realising that, the greater the sale of New Zealand-made goods the greater the number of jobs that would be available for New Zealand workers. Not only will this effect workers in the manufacturing industries, but in the preparation of the raw, materials essential for manufac” turing, and the benefit will be felt if lhe people will on this occasion, when .

making their purchases, ask first of all, and whenever practicable, for’ New Zealand-made goods. Mr F. P. Walsh, president of the Wellington District Council of the Federation of Labour, executive Officer of the Federation of Labour, and general president of the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand, on behalf of his organisations, wholeheartedly supports the appeal of the Hon. D. G. Sullivan for the support and purchase of New Zealand-made goods. 'The Trade Union Movement realises that if the Government policy is to be implemented, it is essential that the economy of this country be placed on a more equitable basis. At the present time New Zealand’s economy is lop-sided and this position can be remedied only by the development of the manufacturing in dustry and support to New Zealandmade goods bv all trade unionists, in common with other people, exercising a determined preference for New Zealand-made goods when making their purchases. We know of no better avenue for employment of worker s in this country than that of producing and distributing goods and services for-their own uses, the measure of which, in the final analysis, will determine their owp standard of living Our manufactured goods, after all, in many cases at least, are second to non 6 in the world, as, for instance, in the cage of our rugs, blankets and woollen ' goods, which . have become world-famous for their quality. Whatever Government is in power, the economic prosperity, welfare and happiness of our people Is determined by ‘the scale of internal production. It is, therefore, due that every worthwhile New Zealander should support this worthy and vital effort of the Minister to stabilise New Zealand economy on a sounder balance, and he is assured of the fullest co-opera-tion and support , of the members of the organisations with which I am associated. The Public Service Association is wholly in support of the movement to encourage New Zealanders to purchase New Zealand-made goods and materials wherever says a statement issued by the general secretary, Mr F. W. Millar. ’ We feel that the importance of supporting local manufacturers cannol be too highly stressed, and you may rest assured that anything the Association can do to assist in this direction will be provided, including the devotion of space in our Journal to bringing before our members the vital importance of this question. ' We consider that despite publicity many New Zealanders still do not realise the range’ of quality goods that local manufacturers can provide, and ,in this direction alone, there is much room for education. There can be no doubt that we have reached the stage when it is encumbent upon all concerned to co-operate to the fullest degree in a determined endeavour to bring about that greater prosperity for us all, of which the Dominion is unquestionably capable. It rests only with each and all sec- . tions of the community to encourage the enterprise of those engaged in producing goods and services for the national g6od. We are confident that members will respond* to the Minister’s appeal to exercise and to give preference to New Zealand goods when making their Christmas and other purchases and in that way to ensure the maintenance of employment for our fellow workers and the continued prosperity of the. country which, in the ultimate equally affects us all. H. B. Duckworth, president N.Z.

Manufacturers’ Federation, states:— In announcing its intention of safeguarding New Zealand manufacturing industries the Government is fulfilling an obvious obligation to the country. The value of the decision, however, lie s in the example which it. will give to others. There is no need to pamper the New Zealand manufacturer; he requires only sufficient protection to compensate him for the service he does in founding industries in the Dominion. In doing that he is benefiting the whole country and public policy demands that he should bo assisted.

The Government has set a splendid example by giving preference to New Zealand-made goods and this should be interpreted as a testimonial to Dominion manufacturers. With the Government’s endorsement given the general consumer snould have no hesitation in adopting a similar policy. Apart from any sentiment it Is only economic common sense for a country to buy its own products. The employment of labour must always be a large factor in the production of manufactured goods and it i s this aspect which should appeal to readers of “The Standard,” in fact in the country generally. Unfortunately, New Zealand at the present time is still confronted with the problem of unemployment which cannot be solved satisfactorily through Public Works alone. Relief work is only a palliative, therefore the only solution which will benefit the workers permanently is to be found in the development of our manufacturing industries. Obviously industry is the only effective absorber of labour in urban areas. Land settlement will certainly put a few.on the way to prosperity; the 'development of industry, on the other hand, benefits many. ' Unemployment is a curse and its existence in New Zealand is unpardonable. The remedy is available, although the full advantage of it has not yet been taken. The Dominion could easily adapt a policy of mutual help. The manufacturer certainly needs help in order to encourage his enterprise. The worker needs help to win his daily bread. These reasons alone should be enough to justify the general whole-hearted support of our indus ’ tries. »

It should also be remembered that the purchaser of New Zealand-made goods is getting good value for his money. Even to-day prices are right and they should become lower still as output increases,' but output cannot be reasonably increased until there is a guaranteed market. The more New Zealand buys.of its own goods the cheaper they will become and most important of all, security of employment will be guaranteed to our own workers.

Both by giving preference to goods made in the Dominion and in embarking upon an intensive publicity campaign on behalf of New Zealand manufacturing industries, the Government has given a useful lead. All that remains now is for the general public to respond by. insisting on and buying only New Zealandmade goods. The workers of New Zealand can a tremendous influence in this direction and I am sure they will readily appreciate the wisdom of such an action.