CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION

VISITED BY HON. W. DOWNIE STEWART. HIS IMPRESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, December 21. A visit to the Industrial Exhibition was made by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs and Customs, this morning. Speaking to a reporter as to the impressions gather'd during the inspection, the Minister expressed pleasure at the splendid variety of exhibits. “It appears to me to be splendidly arranged,” he said, "and it gives the visitor a bird's-eye view of the magnitude and variety of New Zealand manufactures. In going round I was particularly interested to hear from a number of leading manufacturing firms of the new avenue that had been opened up to them in Australia, through the reciprocal agreement recently arranged with that country. The representative of these firms spoke with the utmost enthusiasm of the opportunities which the Australian agjpement has afforded them, and of the prospects for aa increasing market in Australia. Recently several New Zealand manufacturers have' called to inform me of their success in Australia, and of their determination to compete in that market, It is well known, of course, that the New Zealand Customs tariff is on a moderate scale compared with some of the high tariffs in other parts of the-' world, and New Zealand manufacturers have been brought up in a hard school. They have, however, shown singular enterprise and ingenuity in making the best of the situation in which they have found themselves, and in a period of falling prices their self-reliance and resourcefulness will stand them in good stead. The exhibition reflects the utmost credit on the executive, which undoubtedly owes much of its success to the energy of its president. I shall be well pleased if the exhibition which is to be held in Dunedin in 1924 is as successful as your Christchurch one, as I am sure these exhibitions are of great educational value and help materially to promote the welfare and progress of New Zealand manufactures.”