eives less of the product purchased than in a ox without a premium. I am aware that many Mrs. Trivers had a word of appreciation or the mail order houses that have begun to . ey catalogue as “Goodâ€, “Better†and “Bestâ€, WO THOUSAND WOMEN from all parts of Ontario attended the Confer- ence called by the Hon. Robert W. acaulay, Ontario Minister of Economics and evelopment, to launch a Consumer Trade ’. rusade. At this conference the Chairman of he Executive Committee, Mrs. L. G. Lym- urner, Past President F.W.I.O., reminded the ,onference that women spend eighty-five per ent of the money that is spent in Canada: nd the purpose of the crusade is to ask women 0 direct their spending in a way that will ’elp the country’s economy, perhaps at the ame time giving women a chance to direct ' anufacturers to provide some things as ' omen want them. "Ontario will this year have 60,000 young a en and women needing jobs.“ Mrs. Lymburâ€" er said. “It will be too bad if they have to eddle their wares in the market place. If they can’t find work here they won‘t sit and wait, and we will be exporting our best brains to other countries." Premier John R. Robarts also referred to ’ he woman’s part in the nation‘s economy, not only as a consumer but as decision maker in the family spending in general. And he. too. spoke for the 60,000 men and women who will be needing jobs before the end of the year, even though there are 45,000 more jobs today than there were a year ago. In 1962, the Premier said, the development .in manufactured goods was greater than in natural products and manufacturing provides the greater opportunities for employment. It is .a. challenge to all of us to help to provide this employment by stimulating exports, slowing down imports and creating new industries. The Premier reviewed some measures alâ€" ready undertaken in the Government's trade crusade: sending out trade crusaders and set- ‘ting up offices in other countries; establishing {group agencies in foreign markets for manufac- turers who might not feel they could afford an agency of their own; holding exhibitions of foreign goods so that Ontario manufacturers 'SUMMER 1953 giving the buyer some idea of what he can ex- pect without seeing the goods. “I feel that it is the duty of the retailer to protect the consumer where possible." Mrs. Trivers concluded. "In so doing he protects his own interests as well. In these days of intense competition for the consumer‘s dollar, no producer can afford to abide by the old adage. ‘Let the buyer be- )1! ware . Consumer Trade Crusade can examine and see if they can replace them; helping to create a research foundation in an effort to keep our young people in Ontario: establishing trade schools and institutes of technology to train our own young people instead of importing technicians. On the quesâ€" tion of cutting down imports. Mr. Roberts said: “We have never advocated buying only Canadian goods. We‘re a trading nation and we must buy if we expect to sell. It is the imbalance of nine billion dollars that we want to reduce." The Minister of Economics and Developâ€" ment added to this: “We aren‘t advocating a ‘Buy Canadian‘ program. We‘re only asking you to examine and compare Canadian and foreign made goods: and to use your influence. when you can. to ‘Sell Canadian' at home as well as abroad." Mr. Macaulay made his appeal mainly on the point of providing employment. He said: “In Ontario we have nearly 4.000 people not working, You are warm and fed and comfortableâ€"but it's a terrible thing to be out of a job. Dees this matter to you?" Mr. Macaulay gave these objectives of the consumer trade crusade drawn up by repre- sentative women at a meeting that afternoon. (Women's Institute members will note that these are very much like the objectives of the Cana- dian Association of Consumers with which the Institutes have been rather closely associated for the last few years): 1. To provide an opportunity for women to improve the design, quality and commerv Cial value of Canadian products. 2. To give an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of advertising and manufacturers’ presentation of goods. 3. To provide a medium for the constructive exchange of ideas between manufacturers and consumers. 4. To make women aware of the desirabil- ity of selling Canadian products when these are comparable with imports in price and quality. 11