SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1923. SOUTH TARANAKI'S INTERESTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 9 June 1923, Page 6

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1923. SOUTH TARANAKI'S INTERESTS.

The Winter Show which is to be held in the first week of next month is one of the important institutions which are helping South Taranaki in its progrevss, and we hope that this year the show will be well supported by all. There are a large number of applications for space by trading firms, and some of the stands are already being erected. A.s

everybody knows, there is being organised a specially attractive and important display of British goods and the

assistance of everybody in the district is desired to make "Qur Week tor the Empire" a great success. The idea is to foster the spirit of Empire preference iv this district, and to encourage the district to <k* all it eait in helping to build up tl-Ks Empire to the strongest position possible. There is no snore important matter facing the Empire to-dtiy than that c*sf building up its strength &nd knitting the several parts into a Tjiiity which 'will withstand any test put upon it-. Readers must have noted that in the last few months the cable messages have contained a great ana-ny references to Imperial preference and all that it means. Some of us may think that the most that this district can do would be but little in comparison with the enormity of the work and of the Empire, but we always think of the story of the sticks of childhood's days. Taken stick by stick they could be easily broken, but gathered together firmly in a bundle the same sticks refused the efforts of the strongest. So with the British Empire. Taken Dominion by Dominion the Empire could lie easily broken by a .strong enemy; but united in one great nation the breaking of the Empire could not be accomplished. Again, there is .'he well-known fact that the strength of a chain is the strength of its weakest link. We want all links of the chain forming the British Empire to be as strong as possible, and that strength will be added to by a sound system of preference. That is why it is desirable that South Taranaki should do all that it can to further such a scheme as that in which the people are asked to take an interest. If the people of this district do their part and show clearly that they are keen to give preference to British goods, they will be entitled to ask the people of Great Britain to give the products of this fertile territory preference over'those sent to the British markets from foreign countries. We have therefore two> important factors to bear in mind in connection with this year's show week. The Winter Show is a valuable asset to the district. It fosters the spirit of healthy rivalry; it brings town and country together ; it attracts visitors to the district; it is a factor in educating the people, for such exhibitions bring before visitors the products of the. district and also manufactures from places further afield. On these grounds, as well a,<? the more mercenary consideration that the Winter Show is a splendid advertisement to the district, this annual exhibition merits the fullest support. The other factor is the scheme to increase interest in British goods, and we believe that much good can be done by this movement, and that is why we urge the people to support it. -Every £1 that goes to a foreign country instead of being kept within the Empire helps to strengthen the foreigner and weakens our own nation, and the cumulative effect must be very sreat indeed over a period of years. It was the British buying of German goods in prewar days that helped the Prussians to build their great armament factories, their army and their navy, and, a .s everybody knows, it was a very difficult matter to stop the war-lords from reaching their objective. Some people may .say that such a, war will never occur again. They should not be too certain about that, for even' though one welcomes every effort to make peace permanent, it must not be forgotten, that several great efforts have been made during the last hundred years to establish permanent peace j,, tiie world, and history shows that they tailed to stand the crucial t^t We believe that the greatest deterrent from a great war will be a powerful united British Empire and in the building up t ?L ET'T we a]l may take a p*^ The "Week for the Empire." which is to M hei d simultaneously with the Wmter Show, will g i ve South Taranaki a chance to help a little in the <rrent work. n-Empire's interests aiAw would be' mt<T S ' f°r th* Donii »-> * t leit the Commonwealth of British nations; and New Zealand's inte are South Taranaki's interests us all study the interest, of our dfs- ££, our Dominion and onr great it