SOME STRIKING FIGURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21019, 7 May 1930, Page 15

SOME STRIKING FIGURES

GROWTH OF IMPORTS . A WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM By MR R. S. BLACK (Mayor of Dunedin). It is difficult to place sufficient emphasis on the need for supporting the Dominion’s industries by buying New Zealamlmade goods. Imports totalling £20,910,265 in 1917 jumped to £44,886,208 in 1928. These figures include huge sums for ready-made wearing also leather, etc., and include £35,000,000 for articles wholly or mainly manufactured # and should cause each citizen to thiuk seriously whether it is not possible to divert some of that money into the pockets of the workers of ,New Zealand and thus reduce unemployment. We are proud of our country and our primary and secondary industries, but do we support them? Let each reader go through his house and check off the articles in the kitchen, bedroom, or wardrobe, and see if more made in New Zealand goods could not be used and less that come from other countries. If this phase of our spending were more closely watched we would show in a practical manner our sympathy with the workless, and wo would benefit by the extra money being spent locally.. The people of New Zealand are noted for their‘kindness of heart, and it only requires the realisation of the comforf that will accrue to ,one and all if “Buy New Goode" ifl not only a slogan, but a practice, for it to be unnecessary t« stress the point*. I trust that one and all will do their utmost to urge the ues, wherever possible, of New Zealand-made goods,