LOCAL INDUSTRIES WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9253, 4 June 1908, Page 1

LOCAL INDUSTRIES WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

MR M'NAB'S SUPPORT OF THE MOVEMENT. [From Our Correspondent.] I WELLINGTON, June 3. A woek of exhibition of local industries will commence in Wellington tomorrow, and there is every indication > that the public axe talcing a great interest in the movement. " As Minister in charge of the Department of Agriculture, the New Zealand industries week movement particularly appeals to myself," said the Hon R. M'Nab to a "Post" representative to-day. "It appeals to me on account of the fact that in connection ' with the great bulk of the foodstuffs of j the dominion the New Zealand pro- ' ducer has not only a complete control of the local market, but having supplied the local market to the exclusion of all other competitors, he has extended his competition to the heart of the Empire, and is recognised as a fierce competitor of the producers in the British Isles themselves, and the rival producers in the United States, Canada, South America, South Africa and the various European and Asiatic countries that send foodstuffs to London. Aa proving the extent of the development of the growth of foodstuffs in New Zealand,, l might mention that the year ending March 31, 1908, shows an increase in tne quantity of but- j ter exported after supplying New Zea- ' land requirements over the year 1898 (ten years before) of 144£ per cent, of cheese no less than 259 per cent, and of .meats 54 ger cent. .Wlhen I look

at the exports from this country I find that our manufactures to a large extent are unknown. Last year 80 per cent of our exports were associated with the cultivation of the soil. The remaining 20 per cent had to cover all our exported manufactures and all miscellaneous exports not associated with the cultivation of the soil. Presiding over a. department regulating swppliers who have attained such a powerful position as that which I have indicated, I feel myself voicing the opinions and wishes of that large section of the producers of the dominion when I ask the public of New Zealand to give to the manufacturers and that large section of producers outside the growers of foodstuffs that same control over the market of this dominion that the growers of foodstuffs themselves enjoy. 1 feel confident that if our manufacturers were once able to establish themselves in their own local markets it would be but a step in their development to secure a footing in the mar- ; kets of the Old World, thus increasing the value of our exports and aiding in the production of our wealth. I know what will be said in reply, that my nrsfc remarks apply to the primary industries of this country and that manufactures must follow at a considerable distance, but my answer to that is that our phenomena] development in production and export of foodstuffs has been along those lines where a very large portion of manufacture has to be used to the raw article. For instance, butter necessitates careful handling and skilled treatment through its manufactured stages, and the export of that article has increased 144 pev cent. Then cheese, whpre a like skill is required in its manufacture, has increased 250 per cent. Tbe*e two together produce Great wealth to the country, and in them we have complete control of the local market, and we have almost secured control of the world's market. From day to day these manufactures that are associated with foodstuffs are on the increase, while manufactures outside of that class are lan finishing or are not showing a de- ! velopment equal to the development of the dominion.. That should not be so. It is for the people themselves to say whether that control of the local market is to be given to the local manufacturer. A movement such as +his, by I directing public attention to what oab i be done, will probably enable the manu- | facturers to get the footing they want. I would like to see the New Zealandev feel the same pride in the manufactures of New Zealand as he does in the foodstuffs of his country, manifest the same enthusiasm for its further de--1 velopment as is being done by the farmer, and give to his* manufacturers the same monopoly of his market that he has extended to the farmer. It is the victorious career given by his monoI poly at Home that has given heart to ' the producer of our foodstuffs and made I him a strong competitor wherever he is ! to be found, and that same heart and j local triumph must be given to our local manufacturers before they can oust the imported article and carry the war of competition into other countries. The same support given to the general manufacturer as to the grower of foodstuffs will help to reproduce in the former the world-wide success which has accompanied the efforts of the latter."