On Everybody’s Lips

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1020, 10 July 1930, Page 24

On Everybody’s Lips

“BUY N.Z. MADE” SLOGAN IS NOW WIDELY KNOWN

WHEN some future historian looks back over the years through which we are now living he will point out that one of the most notable developments in New Zealand’s history took place in 1929 and 1930. This is the reawakening- of popular interest in the problems of national and industrial development, and in the rapid growth of the “Buy New Zealand Goods” idea.

A • few years ago the president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association could not find in Queen Street a single sign advocating the purchase of New Zealand-made goods. Today scores of shop windows feature nothing else but goods made in New Zealand, and there are numerous agencies actively at work reminding New Zealanders of the advantages of supporting their fellow-countrymen and keeping money within the country.

lowing the Governor-General's lead and wearing suits made wholly in this country. People who never knew it before are discovering all the different articles that come under this category—articles for personal use, for the home, for the business, clothes, food, luxuries—in fact nearly everything. Wherever one goes today one either hears about or sees some reference to this important question. This amazing change has taken place, not because there Is today a

This great change did not come about suddenly. It represents an enormous amount of publicity work through newspapers, advertising, lectures and so on. during the past year or two, and the direct result is that the phrase “Buy New Zealand-made” is on everybody’s lips. Housewives who previously ordered groceries and other lines by quantity now specify a certain local brand or else state openly that they want the locally made articles; business firms and local bodies have formulated an active policy of preference for the New Zealand against the imported article, and hundreds of men are fol-

greater variety of goods made here, but because retailers have now every confidence in stating openly what is and what is not made in New Zealand. This new confidence comes In response to the demand— because people are becoming educated to the enormous variety and the excellent quality of the goods made by their fellow countrymen, and of the advantages of buying these goods. • Ail in all, one must say that, judging by the efforts of retailers and the demands of housewives and shoppers, New .Zealand-made goods are being more sought after and talked about this year than ever before.