GERMAN LEAD PENCILS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 10

GERMAN LEAD PENCILS.

ISSUE BY GOVERNMENT.

MANUFACTURERS INCENSED. USE BY RAILWAY STAFF. ' "• ' ' • [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.} WELLINGTON, Friday. Sharp criticism was levelled against tlio Government by delegates attending the New Zealand manufacturers' conference when attention was drawn to a new issue of load pencils stamped "made in Bavaria," "N.Z. Government," which have just been distributed in the branch of the Railway Department at Petonc. It was considered that the issue could not " bo reconciled with the oft repeated urging of tho Government to buy British goods. "We have been told time and again' to patronise British goods," said Mr. J. Abel, "yet hero is something that hap. pened yesterday. Here is a pencil from brand new stock issued to clerks in Petonc. On it is printed, "made in- Bavaria," and on the other side. "N.Z. Government." It may be only a small thing, but tho Government hammers away at us that we should buy British goods because wo have to sell there,—and we agree with that policy. Instructions have been given to heads of departments to carry out that policy, but they are absolutely ignored. I should like tJie matter to be brought to the notice of the Prim® Minister." Mr. J. G. Jeffery (Dunedin) said Eng. lish manufacturers were capable of making pencils equal to any of foreign manufacture. There was no need to go abroad. The president took the pencil and said he would bring the matter - before tho Prime Minister.