THE JUVENILE COLLECTOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3772, 29 June 1926, Page 18

THE JUVENILE COLLECTOR.

A MEDIUM FOR ADVERTISING. Tfic appeal to the juvenile mind of such mediums of advertising as cigarette cards has suggested to tho Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association a novel method of bring ing before the public the merits of locally manufactured goods. At the meeting on Tuesday night stickers for attachment to envelopes and miniature posters were submitted for approval. Each had a design which consisted of an outline map of Dominion, and propa panda boosting the New Zealand made product. The idea did not appeal to many members of the association. Mr Shepherd said that stickers were only a waste of money. Sending stickers on envelopes to clients was futile. The propaganda must go right into the home. The Chairman mentioned a suggestion by the secretary (Mr Reid) that the card system lately adopted so widely by cigarette manufacturers, might furnish an avenue of advertisement. New Zealand producers could see that some such card was enclosed in each package sold, and a competition could be started among the juvenile collectors, who would soon “get the craze.” Their interest in the cards and continual demands for cards from their elders would bring the system before the notice of the buying public. Mr Wheeler asked what good there was in continually urging people to buy New Zealand-made goods when these goods were not elearlv branded with the place of manufacture. Many manufacturers, lie said, were to blame for this, bocause they would see that their wares were clearly branded “Made in New Zealand.” Manufacturers should have the courage of their convictions and should bo prepared to back the New Zealand brand against all others. The Chairman agreed that this was a most important point. Mr Shepherd suggested, in lieu of the words ‘Made in New Zealand,” a national brand for manufacturers, such, for instance, ns a kiwd. Messrs Wheeler and Faulkner were Instructed to draft a report on the subject. Mr L. Johnson (Department of Industries nml Commerce) said the best way to accomplish what they sought was to have a New* Zealand-made Preference League, with the Governor-General or some 6ther noted personage at the head of it. This was done in Australia. Mr W. It. Hayward considered that the Government should be asked to make it compulsory for manufacturers of protected goods to brand such merchandise “Made in New Zealand.” , It was agreed that a suggestion along those lines should be forwarded with the tariff proposals. Mr W. Nees stated that the Propaganda in Schools Committee had obtained the sympathetic support of the Head Masters’ Association, and that at a future meeting both bodies would have definite proposals to submit.

The Chairman said the committee had done remarkably well in this connection.