BRITISH-MADE GOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18556, 14 November 1923, Page 10

BRITISH-MADE GOODS.

QUESTION OF PREFERENCE.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE ATTITUDE.

There was an atmosphere of true postwar enthusiasm for British-made goods about a discussion at the meeting of the Technical College Board of Managers last evening with regard to the supply of new typewriters for the college. The matter has been before the board on several occasions, end at the last meeting a resolution was passed leaving the purchase of the necessary machines in the hands of the director, Mr. G. J. Park. At last evening's meeting he presented a report staring that he had made exhaustive investigations into the merits of all the leading machines on the market, and recommended that the amount in hand for tiiQ purchase of machines. £108, be spent in purchasing 20 machines of a popular American make, and that a similar purchase be made with the funds available for the purpose next year. Upon the report being presented, a member of the board immediately wanted to know why American machines had been chosen when British goods were available ? S'"'" " purchase as that contemplated would luve the effect of excluding "British machines from the offices in which technical school pupils would subsequently work, for immediately a girl took a position she would ask her employer for the machine to which she was accustomed, and he would get it for her. This was not the way in which to foster trade within tho Empire. The director explained that financial considerations had had a great deal to do with the matter, * the American company being the only one which would take the old machines in part payment. They were offering the new ones en exceptionally favourable terms, and the sum in hand would thus procure far more American machines than British. The college was urgently in need of new typewriters, and it was important that all should be of the „ same make, so as to facilitate the work erf instruction. A long argument ensued, several members holding staunchly to the old dictum, "Its not the money, its the principle of the thing" while others were of opinion that the money counted for quite a lot, inasmuch as twenty badly-needed machines could be procured if the principle was waived, whereas a very much smaller number would be available if principle outweighed the financial aspect. At length, it was decided that one British machine should be purchased for trial purposes. "We've got to have something to show for sending Mr. Massey to the Imperial Conference!" murmured one member, as the resolution was carried.