CORONATION MEDALS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 97, 6 April 1911, Page 7

CORONATION MEDALS.

PROTESTS AGAINST THE IMPORTED ARTICLE.

Believing that those engaged in the engraving trade in the Domi- . nion ought to have got the work of manufacturing the Coronation medals to be presented to the school children, some people inter- . ested in fostering the industries of New Zealand brought the matter , under the notice of Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., who wrote as follows to the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education :— *• Some firms who tendered for the supply of the Coronation medals that it is intended to give the school children desire to know whether the successful tenderer is going to make the articles in New Zealand. They allege the tenderer 1 is likely to import them, and urge . that our own workmen should have ’ been given a preference in view of the fact that this class of work is none too plentiful.” In reply, the Minister wrote :— “ In reply to your letter of the 3rd , inst., respecting Coronation’ medals I have the honour to inform you ■ that, after consideration of all the •' circumstances, the Government ‘ has decided to accept the lowest tender, which is for the imported article.” The Minister’s reply having been brought under the notice of the , Canterbury Trade and Labour . Council, the following telegram was ' sent on behalf of that body to the Minister :— , ‘‘ls it understood that your i reply to T. E. Taylor’s letter of i the 3rd, re Coronation medals, is ‘ final 1 If so, do you expect the parents of Dominion’s children to J allow them to wear them and ad- ; vertise to the world that our craftsmen are not capable of doing 'such work? This is encouraging Dominion’s industries with ven- ) geance.”