“ONWARD OTAGO.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 74

“ONWARD OTAGO.”

INDUSTRIES WEEK IN DUNEDIN. A meeting cf the Dunedin Manufacturers* Association was held on Wednesday for the purpose of arranging an “Industries Week” in Dunedin during the Winter Show period. There was a substantial attendance, and Mr Forsyth Johnston occupied the chair. Mr Johnston welcomed the representatives present and expressed gratification at the interest that had been shown in this special matter which the association had taken in hand. lie mentioned that this was the first meeting the association had had since the executive undertook the supervision of the Court of Industries at the Exhibition. Mr James Hogg explained that last vear it had been decided by the executive to hold an Industrial Week in Dunedin, but the work had been commenced too late, and it had been agreed to hold the project over till this year. A sub-committee had been working oh the matter tor the past four weeks, and that evening’s meeting had been called to make further arrangements. The chief reason for the venture was that it had often been stated that the city wanted brightening up during Show Week, and the shops would be asked to decorate their windows and light them up at night. Again, the association owed a duty to its members, and it behoved it to advance some scheme which would be of benefit to manufacturers. Thirdly, they would be taking advantage of Show Week, when people from all over Otago and a good many from Southland would be visiting Dunedin. No pains should be spared, he said, to forward any move to help the industries of Otago, for it was mainly on the industries that the progress of the province depended. Retailers had been circularised asking them to make displays, and committees representing various retail trades had been set up to secure the names of all manufacturers and to link these up with those retailers who would be willing to give their windows. He was glad to say that 95 windows had been arranged for* so far. This, he hoped, would be a yearly feature during Winter Show Week, and, indeed, the plan had already been in vogue for some years in northern cities. Dunedin retailers had stepped up most loyally, and they were giving their windows without the slightest hesitation. The association owed them its thanks for their generous response. An advertising card which it was proposed to display in shop windows was submitted to Hie meeting «"<■’ also was the slogan it bore, “Onward, Otago.” -*r ilogg later made reference to the Manufacturers’ Court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The northern maunfacturers’ associations had asked that a committee from the Dunedin Association be set up to control the New Zealand Industries Court, and they would then give it their loyal support. This committee had been established, and had been working ever since, with Mr G. W. Reid in charge of the secretarial work and Mr Johnston in charge of the organising work. The business had gone well ahead, and it had been unanimously agreed to accept 42.000 square feet of No. 6 building. He felt that if this space were crammed full t»f nothing but New Zealand-made goods it was .going to be one of the finest exhibits of the lot. The speaker concluded by saying that the presidents of the northern associations had been invited to visit Dunedin next week to inspect the Exhibition buildings and to discuss matters generally. No repl” had been received yet, as the invitation had been sent only on the previous day, but there was every reason to believe they would come down.