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Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 473, 16 August 1915, Page 6

The news that Sydney is arranging an Manufactures Week as part of. the Australian movement to capture German trade is a reminder that the New Zealand Industrial Corporation, which has Christchurch for its centre of activity, got busy with a similar effort on behalf of New Zealand manufactures a few months ago, and that nothing has been heard of it of late. Of course, Australia has more manufactures and larger industries than we have, and can make a very striking appeal to the patriotism of Aus-

tralians, but Australian manufac-1 turers cannot advance any better arguments for the support of Australian industry than New Zealand manufacturers can produce, and that our manufacturing industries are fewer than those of Australia is all the more reason why there should be a special effort made to encourage those industries already established, and to establish' others, as far as is possible. In the first months of the war meetings were held all over New Zealand, at which resolutions were passed, pledging support to inter-Empire trade, and declaring a boycott on German goods, and at not one of those meetings was any scheme put forward as to how this laudable object was to be achieved. Almost every New Zealander is a patriot, and believes in New Zealand first; he believes that New Zealand industries should be supported, even though imported goods may be cheaper, but he wants a lead. Here is the opportunity of the Industrial Corporation to secure organised activity amongst our producers and manufacturers, so that they may make it advantageous for retailers to push the local goods, and advantageous for the people to buy. The Industrial Corporation's scheme for a Board of Trade and Industries is still in the air, with the suggested campaign for proving to the people that it is profitable patriotism for a people to live on their own products, and where is the use of starting a campaign with a flourish, and then allowing the public to forget all about it a week later?