"MADE IN GERMANY"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2231, 18 August 1914, Page 8

"MADE IN GERMANY"

COMMERCIAL SIDE OF TEUTON RIVALRY A BID FOR PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM [Br Sylvius.] , Germany's commercial activity has largely helped to fostev the pail-German movement out of which the present war has arisen. Germany for a couple of decades has "dumped" her manufactures m England mid her colonies to the detriment of British manufacturers and British working men. It is only during the past throe or four years that goods manufactured within the Empire have been given a. preferential tariff over those made in other oouutries, but even this tariff .wall has been insufficient to keep German goods out of the market, for which thanks be to the cheap labour markets of Cologne, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Hamburg. Even if another 10 per cent.-duty, was placed on' German toys, there are no others to take their 'place. Germany has become the toy-maker of the world, contriving at infinitesimal cost to turn out toys calculated with ordinary usago to last but a few hours or days *it the outside, yet bright with paint and tinsel. Tor serviceable toys calculated to last, one must' go to America —and pay the priced If tho war continues to last many months the coming Christmas will be a sad andtoyless one, and even if peace comes before the festive season, it will probably be the expensive American toys that will be displayed to make'flad the hearts of the youngsters. The Australasian colonies have been Valuable clients of tho Fatherland for many years past, but now German pianos ivill give place' to English ones, and German .tools to those of English or American manufacture. German jewellery, plate, razors, pipes, glassware, and hunili eds of. articles which come under' the generic title' of, fancy goods have crept insidiously into the Australasian markets, and'are frequently to be seen sold by auction in city shops. These are tlis products of the German sweat-shops, where labour can be had for a song, enabling shrewd manufacturers to turn out such, goods'at a price no English raanutacturer could look at. . i- , Trade Commissioner's Despair. Before he went Home in April last, Sir. W. G. Wickliam, the. British Board jf Trade Commisaoner, expressed himself juite frankly as almost sick with despair at the attitude that was being assumed by colonial importers to the detri nent of British trade. There yrere cases. Mr. IVickham'sajjtl, where foreign (mostly Herman) firms had got in early and established their goods as, the standard irticle—goods thart were made better and lust as oheaiplv in England. Such prejulices were difficult to remove. The firms night be doing well enough with the for-jign-mada article, but' in the interest of British- trade they might at least listeD :o - the representations regarding the British-made article. Mr. Wickham had ;hen travelled throughout the country ind lad interviewed 'leading business nen and importers and everywhere he ,vas met with tita reply that they were satisfied with the foreien-madp goods they vere importing in preference to the.Britsh, and he left New Zealand with tho. poorest idea of' .'the country's patriotism :ommeraially. Since then, however, the' ?reat awakening has. come, with the first worn of Germaij guns in Belgium, and 3ngland's consequent declaration, of war.