LOCALLY-MADE GOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 12

LOCALLY-MADE GOODS.

WISDOM OF PURCHASING.

INFLUENCE ON PROSPERITY.

VARIETY OF MANUFACTURES.

Tho conditions of trade now prevailing make the present a particularly opportune timo for tho buying public to examine their attitude toward locally-made goods. The industries of Auckland, for instance, have an important bearing on the prosperity and the future development of the city and tho surrounding country. The primary industries as the basis of the Dominion's wealth have been emphasised until scarcely a school child is unaware of the economic principle involved, but appreciation of the part that manufacturing industries should play in the life of tho country is not so general, although undoubtedly it is growing.

Tho easing in wool values and the general financial stringency which prevails in New Zealand in sympathy with the principal commercial centres overseas, are causing difficulties for which people are seeking remedies. The buying of locally-made good 3 in great quantities can help on tho general grounds which have frequently been stated, and with particular bearing on the conditions of the moment, by helping to readjust the adverse exchango rates and by stimulating employment. Tar-Reaching Effects.

A reduction in the volume of imports by increased consumption of goods made in New Zealand would have an immediate benefit in securing a readjustment of the cost of money exchange between the Dominion and London and elsewhere. It is erroneous to suppose, however, that advocacy of preference, to local manufactures necessarily means a permanent reduction of overseas trade. Build up New Zealand's internal trade, increase the population, develop production of and demand for both primary and secondary products, and the effect will bo to increase the wealth of the country as a whole. While people have money they will buy, and overseas trado lost in goods capable of effective manufacture in tho Dominion will be compensated for by increased demand for many other goods which overseas countries indisputably can make to belter advantage than New Zealand. Tho immense variety of articles of everyday use, necessaries and luxuries, which is produced locally is possibly not realised by many people. Many which are in common use and clearly show the high standard of local manufacture are not generally recognised by the bulk of the consumers for what they are, New Zealand-made goods, equal to anything in the same class which can be obtained from overseas sources.

Scope of Manufactures

A competition for the collection of New Zealand brands and labels conducted among the school children of Auckland Province by the Auckland Manufacturers' Association has yielded striking evidence of the wide scope of tho manufactures carried on in the Dominion. The winner. Beryl de Berry, of 26, Wilton Street, Grey Lynn, sent in over 300 different brands and labels, and the other prizewinners had in their collections many not included in tiie first one. Ray Lawrence, 20, Raymond Road, Point Chevalier, gained the second prize, and Grace L. JBrooke, 224, Mount Albert Road, Sand-> ringham, the third. Five special prizes were also awarded. The first piize of £5 was spent in a grocery shop, and no fewer than 60 items of New Zealand manufacture were secured. The manufacture in New Zealand of many lines of goods has become firmly established, to the mutual satisfaction of the makers, their employees, and the consumers. Others, in Auckland and elsewhere, are at a stage of development where increased support from the buying public will lead to greatly increased business. Stimulation of the "building trade and reduction of unemployment are among the influences which may be expected to result.