INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18280, 22 December 1922, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.

EPfTOME AT EXHIBITION.

EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA.

DOMINION MAKERS' SUCCESS

[BV TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday

A visit to the Dominion Industrial Exhibition was paid by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister for Internal Affairs and Customs, this morning. Speaking of the impressions gathered during his inspection, the Minister expressed pleasure at the splendid variety .if the exhibits.

"It appears to me to be splendidly arranged," he said. " and it gives visitors a bird's eye view of the magnitude and variety of New Zealand manufactures. In going round I was particularly interested to hear from a number of leading manufacturing firms of the new avenue that had been opened up to them in Australia through the reciprocal agreement recently arranged with that country.

" The representative of these firms spoke with the utmost enthusiasm of the. opportunities which the Australian agreement has atlorded them, and of the prospects for an increasing market in Australia. Recently several New Zealand manufacturers have called to inform me of their success in Australia, and of the determination to compete in that market. " It is well known, of course, that the New Zealand customs tariff is on a moderate scale, compared with some of the high tariffs iti other parts of the world, and New Zealand manufacturers have been brought, up in a. hard school. They have, however, shown singular enterprise ana ingenuity in making the best of the situation in which they have found themselves, and, in a period of falling prices, their self-reliance and resourcefulness will stand them in good stead. " The exhibition reflects the utmost credit, on the executive, which undoubtedly owes much of its success to the energy of its president. Mr. W. J. Jenkin. I shall bo well pleased if the exhibition which is. to be held in Dunedin in 1924, is as successful as your Christchureh one, as I am sure these exhibitions are of great educational value, and help materially to promote the welfare and progress of NewZealand manufacturers.''