The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1915. CAPTURING THE ENEMY'S TRADE
British manufacturers have a good deal to learn from the Germans in regard to tho application of scientific discoveries to the industries of • the country. The story of aniline dyes is a striking illustrar tion. of this fact which has also been strongly emphasised in other ways' since the commencement of the war. Tho anilino dye business is one of the branches of German trade which the. British manufacturers hope to capture. A cablegram whicn apS eared in Monday's issue of The Dominion shows that pressure is being brought to bear Upon the Government', to support this en-' deavour by giving- a guarantee of adequate tariff protection for at least ten years after the termination of the war. It is a significant fact that a resolution to the above effect adopted by the London Chamber of Commerce was seconded by Sir Albert Spicer, a well-known Freetrader, and Ave are told that the proposal was dealt with - on nonparty lines as a matter of vital national importance. The anilino question _ was discußsed in November last at a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, when Sir Algernon Fikth pointed out that the value of aniline colours consumed in Great Britain is about £2,000,000 per annum. About 80 per cent, of this has come from Germany, about 15 per cent, being produced in Britain. British production of cotton and woollen goods to the value of £100,000,000 depends upon anilines before it can be sold. Among other articles dependents upon anilines' are carpets, wallpapers, hosiery, straw hats, feathers, ink, jute, hemp, boot; polish, paint, and soap. This will give some idea of the importance of the question. Sik Algernon Firte is of opinion that a capital investment of at least £2,000,000 would be required to enable the aniline industry to bo satisfactorily established. There seems to be some differ-1 enco of opinion as to the form which State aid should take. Some authorities think that the Government should gi.ve, eduoational encouragement in the form of a giant for research in preference to a. policy of bounties or protective duties. The vigorous campaign which has been started .in England with the object of oapturihg the enemy's trade has caused a good deal of attention to be directed to the chemical industries as a whole. Leading British scientists are co-operating with the captains of industry in order to' ensure' that this phase of the great struggle is conducted on the most effective lines. In a paper which Sik William Tilden recently read at a meeting of the Royal _ Society of Arts expression was given to some decidedly interesting facts and opinions. German chemists have not usually been first in the field. Sik William Tilden tells, us that during the .earlier part of the nineteenth century the foundations of theoretical chemistry were laid by the efforts of the chemists of England, France, and Sweden. The discovery of isomorphism was, however, made by a German chemist in 1819, and later on brilliant work was done by Likbiq, von Baeyer, and Emil Fischer ; but against theso facts must be placed tne achievements of the English chemists, Smiles, Pope, Peachey, and others which bear out the contention that it was chemists outside of Germany who established the fundamental principles underlying all chemical theory. In tho industrial sphere also the pre-eminence _ of British manufactures was admitted as lato as the International Exhibition of 1862, when the discovery of mduve and aniline, purple ~by W, H. P_erkin was stili fresh in mind. During recent-years, however, ( the Germans have been steadily gaining ground in ccrtain branches of industrial chemistry, such as the manufacture of dyes and fino cheivicals, and Sir Williajl Tilden is not at all satisfied with the contention that tho aiiccess of tho Germans in thesa lines doefi not matter so long as the
British manufacturers are making money with the others. Such an attitude, he says, is neither patriotism nor Common sense. The question now being considered is how to make up the lost ground. _ The most modern methods of scientific investigation must be employed, and there must be a regular and • adequate supply of first-class chemists. The need of- capital is illustrated by the fact that German manufacturers have already, some years ago, invested no less than £900,000 in the investigation of' the problems' connected with the industrial production of one colouring matter alone —indigo. Sir William Tilden is convinced that the State must help if the chemical industry is to be established so securely as to_ survive the period of fierce competition that will commence as, soon as the war is over. He also urges that every' man who cares for his country should demand that business at home shall be limited to British goods. Recent developments in Britain indicate that organised efforts are being made on a large scale to tnake use of the present opportunity for the extension of British trade at the expense of Germany. One of the speakers at the meeting of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce on Monday expressed doubt as to ■whether we, as an Empire, will be able to hold the German trade that we capture. We oertainly can hold it—or at any rate a great deal of it—if we really want to hold it, and take the necessary measures for holding it. If we lose it again, and throw away a great opportunity, we will have no one but ourselves to blame.,' The mattor lies in our own hands.
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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2363, 20 January 1915, Page 4
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921The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1915. CAPTURING THE ENEMY'S TRADE Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2363, 20 January 1915, Page 4
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