GOODS FROM AMERICA

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1930, Page 11

GOODS FROM AMERICA

WIDE USE IN DOMINION. . NEGLECT OF' LOCAL ARTICLE. In the course of an address at the annual conference of the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation at Christchurch, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, referred to the competition of foreign goods in hotels. The Minister said he had found such things as American soap and American fruit. New Zealand fruit, such as apricots and peaches, was going to waste, and on top of this the people were clamouring to the Government • for work.Everywhere they saw things American. He deprecated the fact that so many of the goods used in New Zealand were imported, to compete unfairly with the New Zealand article.

In his own home everything was New Zealand or British made. This was a principle that others could follow. Everywhere one went one ran up against foreign goods. Mr. Stallworthy reiterated the message of the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, that if every householder in the Dominion spent 2s. 6d. a week on New Zealand-made goods the question of unemployment would be solved. The comparison between American and New Zealand trade in New Zealand showed three to one in favour of America. All this should have roused our people to action, but none was forthcoming.

Mr. Stallworthy said he looked on grocers as “outposts of Empire.” They played a very important part in the economic life of the community, and they had a great deal to say in regard to imports. They were public educators in the matter of local industries.

The speaker also dealt with protection of industries, and assured the gathering that if they could bring measures before Parliament which sought protection against foreign competition he felt sure they would receive sympathetic consideration. ‘ • . ’ i , t