BRITISH GOODS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 23 December 1925, Page 8

BRITISH GOODS

Other thoughtful speakers besides Sir George Elliot have recently been emphasising the desirability of bringing home to the people of New Zealand the reasons why they should purchase British goods. Attention is frequently drawn to the fact that Britain is New Zealand’s best customer, yet there is no sufficient proof of appreciation of Ihe significance of that fact or of a desire to reciprocate as fully as possible. There is room in this country for a movement having for its object the stimulation of New Zealand interest in the products of the Mother Country and of the Empire. Both on the ground of patriotism and on that of self-interest we should give a definite preference in our purchases to the products of Great Britain. If we buy American or Continental goods we are only helping to reduce Britain’s capacity to take our own exports. The tendency towards a decline in the proportion of our imports drawn from Great Britain has been the subject of comment; between 1913 and 1923 it fell from 61 per cent, to 52 per cent. It is not saying too much to suggest that it should be a matter of conseiehce with New Zealanders to favour the British manufacturer whenever opportunity offers. There are fashions in purchasing, and the fashion in New Zealand should be to obtain necessary imports from Britain. New Zealand has everything to gain, and nothing to lose, by increasing her trade with the Alother Country.