The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1883. The American Colonial Trade.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 963, 7 June 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1883. The American Colonial Trade.

The reason that Great Britain has been so long the most prosperous trading nation in the world is due to the fact that the goods exported were superior in quality and workmanship to what could be produced elsewhere. In many foreign markets the British manufacturers had at one time a virtual monopoly, but there is abundance of evidence to show that a formidable rival has sprung up in America, qnd so far as the colonies are concerned it seems by no means unlikely that the latter country will considerably improve her position as an exporter. In the old days England solaced herself with the belief that anything that came from the States was mere “ shoddy,” and was satisfied that although people might be deluded for a time by the cheapness of the articles, the superiority of Fnglish-made goods could not fail to gain the battle in the long run. That the rivalry of America was held too cheaply, the following extract from the representative of a large trading firm in Australia to a leading house in Birmingham will show :—“ We would call your attention once more to the enormous increase in the number of articles we are buying from America. A few years since some half-dozen articles were about all we ordered of American make. Now, as you will see by the indents we send you, the items specially ordered of American make are to be counted by hundreds. This increase is still maintained, and is, indeed, still growing. Your English manufacturers would do well to take a lesson from their American rivals. The American goods exactly suit the requirements of the market. The timber they have will always command a certain trade, but why should they excel English makers of shovels, axes, picks, and edge tools ? It is annoying to those of us who have English sympathies to see so much trade go away from the old country. The general characteristics of American goods, as contrasted with home-made,

are—quality more reliable, better finish not an ounce of unnecessary material, better packing, and the articles themselves thoroughly adapted to the use to which they are put,” in certain c’asses of goods England still maintains a supremacy, but considering the energy and activity displayed by America during recent years, the older country will have to bestir or she ? will find herself deprived of the larger part of her colonial trade. Buyers naturally go to that market which can supply them with the most suitable articles, and according to the extract given above they find such a market easier in the United States than in England. For many reasons this is to be regretted. At the present time there is very little trade reciprocity between the colonies and America, nor is there likely to be much while heavy protective duties are in force. She finds a large market for her “ notions ” in this part of the world, while she practically closes her ports to our produce. We cannot expect that mere sentiment will govern trading relations, and, however much it may be regretted, if Great Britain finds herself behind America as an importer to these colonies it will be due to her own apathy.