BUY BRITISH GOODS”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17156, 5 October 1926, Page 12

BUY BRITISH GOODS”

(To the Editoi' of the Herald.) J Sir, —Most tradesmen at the present i moment are urging the public to “Buy British Goods.” This is a very good slogan. May f suggest that it would be equally pertinent for the public to urge the tradespeople to buy goods of British manufacture? Those who buy ere more or less in the hands of those who sell. The public demand for goods ot purely British manufacture sr.ould be imperative. I cannot imagine ary Britisher entering a place of business, and demanding foreign goods in preference to British; yet, it is too often the case that it is impossible to do otherwise than purchase foreign stud'. It is only by whole-hearted collationt cm between buyer and seller that any decided benefit can accrue to England. 'Were it but a matter of self-interest to us, the present movement shouh! receive our earnest support. Would it bo but a small matter to us if England could no longer bear the present strain? How would such a cn*asirophc uitoet every human being in every country in the British Empire? Why should' we. take from the one who is poor with honor, and give to the one who is rich with dishonor? Although England takes nearly 85 per cent of our total exports many firms invariably place their orders in the U.S \. Is a country, who with utter callousness, socks the life-blood of tin Mother Country entitled to such consideration. You, sir, ask in what degree are the Dominions and dependencies assisting the commercial foes of the Homeland". I observed a printed notice on a shop window, in Gisborne, “Buy British Goods;” yet in this very window I found the"bulk of the articles displayed to be of American origin. I have no doubt this is not an isolated in stance. 1 would here quote your leader —“Britain is paying for the war, paying to a stubborn creditor nation the dues of equally stubborn debtor nations. How long can she continue to bear the burden, while the sapping of her lit e-blood by both creditor and debtors goes on?” Britain is bearing the burden. The interAllied debts owing to her amount to the inconceivable sum of £2,100,000,000 For three generations she will have to pay £IOO,OOO daily .to the U.S.A. She has taxed herself more than any other nation in the world. She has redeemed her honor in making her £ w r orth 20s. What is needed is persistent buying by merchant and trader ot British goods in preference to all others; and not a mere pretence in deference to a sudden bust of public Imperialistic patriotism, which will immediately die down unless encouraged and fostered l:.v the honest and continued endeavor of those who sell and those who buy — I am, etc., ogwALD ORTOX.