DOMINION GOODS CAMPAIGN

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 22 June 1931, Page 8

DOMINION GOODS CAMPAIGN

UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD GRANT. MINISTER’S EXPLANATION (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. June ID. The forth.ooming campaign on behalf of New Zealand-made goods was outlined (by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, in a statement on behalf of the Unemployment Board today. He made it clear that the grant of £Bol} by the (board towards; the campaign wa-s in. no way a- donation to the Manufacturers’ Association. “The .manufacturing industries' of (lie Dominion.” said the Minister, “are experiencing the full effects of the- depression in trade, and the consequent lack of .sales has resulted in, the services of many of the employees being dispensed with. The progressve increase in the number of unemployed is largely due-to the tremendous decline in the business transacted by these industries, and in an endeavour to reawaken .public interest in the locallymade products 1 , and with the primary object of enabling employees to get back to their special], jobs, the Unemployment Board recommended to the Government the advisability of instituting a. publicity campaign to stimulate a demand for alii New Zealandmade goods. “This interest in, industrial progress is an, integral part of the Unemployment Board’s functions, and! the- Government cordially endorsed the recommendation. The question, of financing the campaign, which it is estimated will cost £I2OO. was decided by the board agreeing to make available the sum of £BOO on condition that the Man u fact ii revs’ Association, members, wlit)' would! benefit indirectly, contributed one-thiril (£400) of the total. Mils is not in any sense a grant to the Manufacturers’ Association anv more than the Unemployment Board’s subsidy under the No. 2 scheme was a grant to householders or the subsidy under schemes 4A and’ 4B was a, grant to farmers. The board’s chief eoojcern in these cases Was to provide openings for unemploved men. and not to benefit farmers.”