IMPORTS AND INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 7

IMPORTS AND INDUSTRY.

Sir,—To-day the buying public of Nejw Zealand does not consider from wfrcncb come the goods they are buying—whether manufactured in Britain or Germany! no matter as long as the price seems right, well and good Now, in the case of German goods, when all the freight, <stc., has been considered, why should it be possible to put on the cheaper Continental goods at same price as the British goods ? Certainly it leaves one With an option to buy the British wares, biit if the British goods are at the right prifte then why tolerate foreign, unmarked gcKxls ? Every day the business world is doing its best to promote trade. Therefore if traders keep the standard of ; goods as possible, then the consumption of British output would be far greater than at present. In tho case of Hew Zealand products, of which there is an ever growing quantity, why should hoi those industries be aided, not necessarily by the ever pestered Government, whej in reality is no more th&n tho very public themselves, but by the actual public who buy from the retailer. Take for instance tinned foods, wines, materials and paper, all of which are the output of these islands—riot mehtsonihg. many other industrial that are ail thG time being built up and that will gradually! mako the backbone of this country far greater and strongc? than .it is to-day. It is the exports of t» country that show its strength, It 6. country is freely importing, bringing goods thousands of miles, it must mean that tha mass production and large orders that are placed elsewhere than on the New Zealand markets are so considerable thatvjthe .local man is unable to .open up his works. 'lri' every-day buying an enormous percentage of money spent is sant out of the country, purely because tho • Sublic lack interest. Britain has madt er name for her manufacturing trades, though littfo of the raw material is of her own production, shot in island? aa these, where nearly every type pf growth ; and production is possible, we should draw our stores from our own supplies, own our own country and not have to turn to foreign markets, when' the demand for tho various; articles is ever evident. As iong'as the producar is willing and capable 'of prodacing up to competitive - standard,, and th&buymg; public is encouraged :-to ; buy Of their ■ output, then New Zealand wftl make headway far quicker than she has in-the past. G. N. Cabvaxjeio.