INDUSTRIES WEEK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 6

INDUSTRIES WEEK.

Thb Canterbury Industrial Association appears to liavo made very complete arrangements for the Industries Week which commences this morning, and it now remains with the shopkeepers and the general public to carry its efforts to a successful conclusion. It is never very easy to understand why It is necessary to ask the people to svfpporfc their own manufactures. If any sacrifice of comfort or convenience or any additional expense were involved in wearing colonial-made clothes, using colonial-made furniture or consuming colonial-prepared foods, the position would bo different. We could say, then, that there were limits in the affairs of everyday life to a man’s patriotism. But everyone who has taken the trouble to observo for himself knows that New Zealand'is producing clothing and woollens, hoots and shoes, furniture and machinery, foods and scores of other articles at least equal to the goods manufactured La arucj

other part'of tho world and at prices which will bear tho most searching comparison. The explanation must bo that tho great majority of the peoplo have not taken tho trouble to think about tho matter. The dominion is importing about £300,000 worth of boots and shoes every year, and nearly £500,000 worth of woollens, and yet it is perfectly safe to say that threefourths of these goods would bo manufactured within its own borders if tho people onco got into tho habit of demanding colonial-made footwear and colonial-made clothing and house furnishings. But the peoplo are indifferent and apathetic, and every section of tho community suffers in consoqiienco. The aim of tho Industrial Association is to remove this apathy and indifference and to arouse a real interest in local manufactures. It has invited tho shopkeepers to make displays of these manufactures and the public to see them for themselves. Industries Week has been established not for the glorification of the Association or for the profit of the shopkeepers, but for the better education of tho people, and we trust they will take tho fullest advantage of the opportunity that is being given them. Their contribution towards tho movement should be a resolution to make use of locally-made goods wherever possible, and to impress their merits upon their friends and neighbours. By co-operat-ing with the Association in this way they would be giving very practical assistance in the solution of the unemployed problem and a distinct impetus to tho industries of the country. The Association has not ovorlcoked tho importance of impressing the rising generation with the value of local manufactures, and is again offering prizes for essays on tho subject written by school children. Teachers can help this part of the patriotic work by encouraging their pupils to make themselves acquainted with tho features of tho various displays and to take part in the competitions. Thero is not a member of the community, indeed, * who cannot assist, in some way or another in forwarding the purpose for which Industries Week has been promoted. If everyone will do his duty during tho next few days, and during the next twelve months, the success of the movement trill be fully assured.