MADE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 133, 6 June 1908, Page 5

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND.

[from ovts, correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Friday. A brave show is being made in a large number of Wellington shops this week of goods manufactured in New Zealand. The idea of a "New Zealand Industries" week is decidedly a good one. It is astounding now ignorant the average New Zealander is - concerning the industries of the land in which he lives. And, I am sorry to say, it is surprising, and aWoying, that there should often be a prejudice against the coloniallymade article. There is no earthly reason why the vast majority of the articles made in the Dominion should not be of just as good a quality as the imported goods, to which so many people pin their faith. We have the best of raw material, and where edibles are concerned, the sanitary conditions under which the goods are manufactured here are immensely superior to the conditions prevailing in the Old World.

As for quality, which, after all, should be the first consideration of the buyer, a Petone or LVfosgiel blanket is easily first, and yet English-made blankets—half shoddy—are sold in large quantities. It is almost inconceivable that we should import pickles and sauces and tinned meats, and yet we do. As for tinned fish, it has long seemed to me a perfect disgrace that surrounded as is New Zealand by waters simply teeming with fine fish 1 there should be so large a quantity of imported tinned fish on the local market. If the fine displays now to be seen in so many shop windows can remove some of _ the ignorance and prejudice to which I have alluded to, "Industries Week" will have done a very good and. useful service to the Dominion and its industries.