A NEW ZEALAND WEEK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 34, 23 January 1911, Page 9

A NEW ZEALAND WEEK

VIEWS OF NAPIER TRADESMEN. I In view of the fact that the > Napier Chamber of Commerce had ! resolved to attempt the promotion of a "New Zealand Week,’’ a representative oi the - Tribune” interviewed a number of leading tradespeople on the subject. It was, of course, impossible to visit ail shopkeepers, but from replies received we should be justified in believing that opinions given below are thoroughly representative. In most cases the project was looked upon with favour, but some few were frankly sceptical of good resulting from the carrying out of die project. Mr. Simin, of Blyrh and Co., said he would do all he could to help the matter along. He thought it ' was a good idea, but h< preferred Ito leave the matter until after the 1 Retailers’ Association had dealt le. i’h it. Mr. C. F. Smith, of Kirk- ( cc.ldie and St.-i ; ::s. .‘aid lie was in | favour of the pr.»pm-;;I, provided ?i suitable date couid be aiiaiig<-.| I for a ur:iveis.i! d’i-pl.-.i of all goods, if' ; fi--!:i v ou’d b'* p.< pared to disp 'a;» .•••ug«. hlaukeis, coloured ;••• <<!<?. He recalled the fact that a similar exhibition of New ZeaI 'and goods was held in Wellington about 18 months ago, with great sm ress. and said that as an attraction to their window they had a 'oom from tin* Wellington Woollen Mills working there. Rugs made lin the window were afterwards I sold. Speaking for his firm, he would like to see the exhibition laid about Easter, as at that time • here v. ou'd be many visitors to I own.

| Another hading draper said it | would probably be wiser to hob!

the matter over until the Associj alion had discussed the subject. j Expressing a personal opinion, lie ' referred to the fact that some time 1 ago in Dunedin and South a splendid show v.as got together and

taken up heartily by tltf* whole town, but rhe show was not a suc-

cess. (‘ither from the traders’ or spectators’ point of view. Crowds I did not flock into town to see the display, and many firms withdrew I heir exhibits on the third day, instead of carrying on for a whole | week. From a tradesman’s standpoint his window display was his i best method of advertising, and it i was proved in Dunedin conchtsive!!y that rhe ‘New Zealand Week’’ ! did not pay the trader, and on a J stcor>d attempt being made toproj mote a display the tradesmen rej fus' d. He was in the wholesale line al the time, and met numer- ■ otts tradesmen who said there was i ” nothing in it.’’ Exneiience showicd that so far a “New Zealand ' Week ” had been a fiasco. This

■ wax proved by the withdrawal of J the window displays the windows i would be left for a mouth if the | goods sold-blit they were with j drawn on the third day. j Mr. M right, of Reardon and I M right, tailors and mercers, expressed the opinion that “New Zealand Week ’’ should be held [ when something was on. If a suitable date could be arranged, he would fall in with any proposal, but it was not much good at ordinary times unless the people could be brought together. They want ed to attract strangers if they were to make it a success. Mr. G. Birchall, of the N.Z. Clothing Factory. «aid that so far as he could see the proposal was a good one. hut it would, of course, have to go before his head office. If headquarters were agreeable, he j would do what he could to assist 1 the movement. A display of New | Zealand goods attracted much attention in Auckland when he was [there, but he could not say that it | made much difference to trade. Mr. E. H. Ricketts, men’s elothi1 er. said the idea seemed a very I favourable one. but he would pre- ■ fer to wait until the Retailers’ ! As-oeia.riori had discussed the qnes- ■ Hou. IJe s;iw no reason why they i -Jiotild not ail help to push the sale I )i New Zealand goods: it all helpf cd to make employment, and would : be better for themselves in everv

way. In the boot trade we visited Messrs. Sharpe A Co. and Penrose, join of whom were very favourable fo the proposal, but Air. Penroe * '-.ggesied that the exhibition •hould be held at a time when 1-ouniry people are not particularly !>u y. so as to enable them to attend. Mr. Wilson, ironmonger, viewed the proposal favourably. and ag-eed to do what was possible in his line. Mr. J. C. Bryant, of Bryant and ■<>.. grocers, vas vm-y favourable "<» tlx* proposal. It should be a e-v good thing indeed, and he •aid hi« firm bad a very large stock *f New Zealand goods which could ■e displayed and he would readily tsr ist. Mr. P. Williams, of Henry Wi ! - ia ns and Son, ironmongers, sa‘ t

lie could not see what good a New Zealand week would do. In any nase, he had not very much in the ,hape of New Zealand manufactured stuff to display. Mr. J. McVay, saddler, was most Mithusiastic. and thought the proposal was a very good one indeed. In these days of German manufactured goods, it was wise to bring before the New Zealanders their own manufactures. The holding jf a “New Zealand Week” was most advisable, and he could fill his window easily with locally manufactured goods. The public would be surprised at what was really manufactured in the country, especially in the line of food stuffs. He hoped the proposal would be energetically carried out. Mr. W. J. McGrath, grocer, stated that he had often thought it would be a good thing to institute a “ New Zealand Week ’’ here. He would do what he could to make it a success.