The Daily News SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1925. THE SPIRIT OF TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1925, Page 10

The Daily News SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1925. THE SPIRIT OF TARANAKI.

Although it is not generally recognised, every town and every district has its distinctive spirit. If, however, the question were asked: What is the spirit of 'Taranaki? how many of the residents of the province would be able to furnish an answer that contained a near approach to correctness? Not many, it is to he feared. Yet, beyond all question, the spirit not only exists, but is plainly apparent to. all who seek for it. Take, for instance, this week’s proceedings at Hawera, where a gathering of the North Island’s producers, representing many millions of pound’s sterling of the Dominion’s wealth, has been discussing, with much zeal and intelligence, matters affecting the dairy industry, and then compare it with the scene which met the gaze of the first colonists who arrived in Taranaki. Surely that retrospect will furnish some indication as to the nature of the spirit of the province. It is worth noting that the meaning of the name “Taranaki” —the mountain with barren sides —in no way applies to the productivity of the province, except as forming another clue to the nature of the spirit of the district named after the mountain. The bush, fern and, scrub have' mostly ! disappeared, being replaced with rich pastures wherefrom, the great wealth of the main industry is drawn. May it not, therefore, be claimed that the spirit of Taranaki is “Creative Energy,” backed up by indomitable perseverance and enterprise? The same characteristics which, according t& the headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School (Mr. J as. Drummond) make university students undergo intense struggles to attain the desired end, are exemplified in the strength, industry and creative energy which have made Taranaki what it is to-day. It is well for every centre to have a distinctive spirit that makes it famous for some speciality for which it acquires renown. Taranaki’s dairy produce is its strong point. Speaking to a News representative a! Hawera on Wednesday, the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F. Bollard) said: have seen yoUr show, and,l ,saw how well you' are maintaining the high reputation "you have for many years held for intensive, highgrade cultivation. Taranaki has certainly held for many years great sway in the dairying and agricultural industries of the Dominion. ’ ’ The Minister went on to say that in the South a sort of habit had grown up for buyers of butter or cheese to inquire whether it is from Taranaki, an affirmative reply at once guaranteeing that the quality is high grade.. That is the kind of reputation to be aimed at in respect of all the markets overseas to which our butter is sent, and the kind of reputation most desirable to maintain and extend. Creative energy,. rightly directed, will accomplish that aim, hence it would be well to give practical proof that,'the spirit of Taranaki is an inspiring influence that should be given full and free scope for action. There are certainly promising indications that every possible means for perfecting the dairy produce of this province and other provinces will be adopted.' Much enlightenment is being shed upon the various stages of production connected .with this industry, and the use of science, together with practical experiments, must have a beneficial effect on the quality and quantity of the amount exported. There are several problems which may prove difficult to solve, but must in time give way to perseverance. As the output is the chief source of the Dominion ’s prosperity, it is only fitting that, the Government, through its Agricultural Department, shoulfi render all the assistance in its power. At the same time all those engaged in the industry must be imbued with a due sense of their individual responsibility for raising the quality of the output. If they rightly come under the influence of creative energy they will realise that the spirit of Taranaki is a beneficent one which it pays to cultivate. They have only to note well what has been already accomplished in order to be .stimulated to higher aims in the future. Carelessness or indifference as to the purity [and cleanliness of the milk is the ( one weak link in the chain that j should be .eliminated. Moreover, I its replacement by scrupulous [care will prove an . investment that will pay handsomely.

TRADING WITH THE MOTHERLAND. At the Hawera Winter Show the other day Mr. W. D. Lamhie, of the British Trade Commieeioner’s Office in New Zealand, said that as Britain took practically tije whole of ! the Dominion’s produce she naturally looked for an increasing market for British goods in New Zealand. The Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F; Bollard) concurred. “There is' one thing which the British manufacturer neglects and which America studies,’’ said Mr. Bollard. “Britain is backward in, .sending her experts to New Zealand to find out exactly what are our requirements. That is responsible for the United .States elipping in and getting a great deni of our custom. When she wants to launch an article on our market she sends out a man to study what we want. That is where the British manufacturer is lacking.” No doubt there is some justification tor this charge, but the British manufacturer or merchant, is not eo indifferent now as he was, and is making a genuine effort to meet the requirements of the Colonial market. It is perfectly true, of course, that the United States was the first to build motors that met colonial conditions, and captured the markets. But it must never be overlooked —as it is apt to he—that whilst the American was busy improving his motors and exploiting the Colonial markets, the Home-manufacturer was actively engaged in making munitions instead of motor-cars, in order to save the Empire and the world from Hun domination. He lost at least four years by performing this service to his country and mankind, and it is not surprising that the Colonial markets were lost to him, but he is now making up leeway and turning out an article the merits of which are bound to count in the long run. It is the same with other articles. The British manufacturer can and does make the best in the world, and he realises now, as he has never done before, that he has to study the requirements of the Dominion markets if lie is to secure and retain the trade. The essential point which the Colonial has to consider is,, What would become of him if Britain did not take practically the whole of his produce? Could he sell it elsewhere—for instance,’ to the United States? No; the farming community of that country sees to that. Prohibitive duties are levied upon all our products—'butter, cheese, wool and meat. The Americans want our trade but are not prepared to trade with us in return. Britain, on tile other hand, provides us with a market for all the products we are able to send her, and helps us with her mighty navy. Is it not therefore only just and fair that we should, in turn, buy all,we possibly can from her? Al present we are buying' a great deal of American gobtfs with good English money that we can well purchase from the Old Country, which Was never more in need of the orders we can put her way.