The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is in corporated tho West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1925. ENCOURAGING INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is in corporated tho West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1925. ENCOURAGING INDUSTRY.

With a threatened stringency in trade, the slogan of “liny British Goods” is being \oiced abroad. Another variation of the slogan is “Kmoutage Bocal Industry. ’ A returned visitor from the Dunedin Exhioition who. normally is engrossed in the timber trade, tells rather a good story of the application of the .slogan. In the great exposition there are many variation* ol the slogan to impress on visitors the need to encourage business within the Empire by buying British goods. The first to attract the attention of our informant had a novel setting. The injunction to “Encourage bocal industry’’ was brazened forth in attractive lettering, sure to catih the eye, but the advice was suspended from an imported oregon beam ! Xo doubt the Exhibition authorities for reasons of their own saw tit to use imported timber fo the exclusion of that produced by local industry, but tho message com eyed by the advertising slogan surely had and uneongrmnis setting. Yet it is a fact that the predisposition to import or patronise foreign commodities is having an adverse effect" on local trade and industry. The dairying iompanies which are patronising Swedish butter boxes in preference to the local timber, are helping to dislocate trade. The timber trade is feeling the pinch already and the importation of the foreign article is only in its infancy. The menace is likely to grow in proportions, and in a year’s time it is possible to conceive there would be a state of stagnation in the timlier trade, where heretofore there was steady employment available lontributing to local and general prosperity, which was reflected all round. Tn his half-yearly address a few days ago. the Chairman of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand spoke plainly on the cash on delivery system growing up in Now Zealand whereby goods of all kinds were being imported by post from beyond the Dominion, a practice which is having a most adverse effect on internal trade. These imports must aggregate a very large sum in a year, and tho turn over is being effected without providing any local employment, tho proceeds of the sales passing directly

out of tlio country. To :i considerable degree tliis practice of seeking outsido local facilities for supplies is Had for towns or communities which are selfcontained so far as local services are concerned to provide for necessary requirements. But the local shop-keep-ers and business people are frequently passed by and trade sent out of the town to the irreparable loss of the community. A town such as this suffers considerably bv the practice of .shopping hv post or outside trading. Yet here are well appointed shops and business premises, ready and eager to eater for requirements, but so frequently overlooked. And this outside trade is chiefly in the main a cash trade. What is left for the local store-keeper is the credit- portion of the trade. So when business ]ieople complain of quiet times and a slackness, it does not follow that there is less trade abroad, hut the plain fact is that the business is going out of the town, and the goods required are being broughtin in exchange for the money often .so thoughtlessly sent away from the place. All classes of business feel the eflocf oi the practice we refer to. hut ii the people would consider the ultimate effect of neglecting homo markets, they would realise that actually the policy of going out of the town for supplies which can he procured within, is had and harmful in every aspect. Money earned within the place is sent outside never to return : while local tradespeople are expected to provide credit meanwhile to pay for the older- sent ■out of the town. ft would he well, therefore, to cultivate a truer citizen spirit, by helping to build up the business of the town rather than assisting to undermine it. Buy irom your own stores and create a volume ot business thereby, which will bring down prices and create an atmosphere of prosperity, which will he reflected all through the community. If is a useful way of displaying practi al loyally to the home town, and helping it day |,V day to become a brighter and better business town.