BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 7

BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE.

# , POSITION OF THE FOREIGNER. (ritox oina ow* cosusroKPEm.) , LONDON, January 15. Sir' Alexander ©ibb, chainnan of ' the Council of the, London Chamber' of Commerce, proposed the toast p£ "Our Overseas Tl%do, , > , at the thirty-third aunual dinner ot the London Shipping and Forwarding Agents* Conference Incorporated. "There is a good deal too much talking^and far too.little doing," he "Wherever one 1 goes one is deafened by endless declamations of h busy-bodies teaching us our own business. <■ ... <i*'l have travelled pretty well all over , the world," Jhe said,' "and l'have seen far too many, foreign' ships in' Overseas ports.. If our goods cost less we should see fewer, foreign, boats in those ports. Abroad, and.particujarlysia our overseas Dominions, .there is a general inclina-

JJUUMMUMftBy l liuu«v tion to buy British goods where importers can do bo-.without having to pay too much.. Overseas traders' .will give as mueb as five per cent, above the price quoted by otit competitors, but they" will "not go beyond : 'that figure." ■- He would; he- continued, 'emphasise the fact that ii .was a*'fatal mistake on the part of otfr manufacturers to try ' to do without the shipping and forward- > ing" agent. There was no question that 1 these agents saved the all too meagre > fees .which they were paid. He regret-' ' ted, to say that' British'authorities were | rather apt, perhaps subconsciously, to \ J up *be , foreigner against themj selves.' There was a tendency to give I theip rights and privileges denied' to y our r own people, the Idea -being, 'he .sup- | posed* "Oh* He r 'si poor foreigner, and [ he xduat be, helped;, begins «t r ' homfe," lie concluded,''' and the foreigner"be flowed.*' , <- 5 V -rf . ' »*