IMPORTED PRINTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20479, 3 February 1930, Page 12

IMPORTED PRINTING.

Sir,—-The problem of absorbing boys and girls completing their school life into industry is closely connected with the development of our secondary industries, which can only expand either behind tariff barriers or upon a strong determination on the part of New Zealanders to give absolute preference to New Zealandmade products. Tho industry with which I am connected could absorb hundreds of boys and girls each year, and provido them with interesting careers if many of those who are in tho forefront of tho "Buy New" Zealand Goods" campaign understood the first principles of their doctrine. I refer to tho printing industry, which solely depends on the manufacturing, commercial, and distributing concerns for business and not on the retail purchasers. This 1 country imports • printing, stationery, cardboard boxes, advertising matter, calendars, and general printing to tho (utio of nearly £1.000,000 a year. Tho concerns chiefly responsible for these importations are tho insuranco ! companies, hanks, theatrical and film dis- ! tributors, department drapery stores, jam, ' biscuit, confectionery, and clothing lnanutorturers, tea importers, engineering firms, , oil distributors, and motor-car firms. And \ it, is quifo possiblo that, given tho oppor- [ tunity, the printers in New Zealand could . supply at least 75 per cent, of theso importations. In recent, years tho printing industry of this country has been developed to a, high standard of efficiency, and I saw nothing, during a visit to Australia and Britain in 1928, any better than wo havo hero for tho production of tho best class of commercial and advertising work. Tho printing industry is probably tho largest of our manufac- } Luring industries. Tho latest figures 1 show that 8053 persons aro employed in tho industry, that £1,805,690 was paid I, in wages and salaries for tho year 1927-28, and that £3,580,230 (nominal value) is ' invested in buildings and plants. Tho 1 production for the year 1927-28 was a valued at £4,411,052. Labour costs amount . to a tidy sum in this industry, and if , our importations were reduced even by . half it would mean more employment and n moro money thrown into circulation, o Thoso commercial concerns importing ■j their printing and stationery have no t right to make a selling point of "Buy u. New Zealand Goods" and at the same time . let a few shillings help to suppress r, avenues of employment- for our young folks. Civic.