BRITISH TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 15, 13 October 1919, Page 5

BRITISH TRADE

SIR AUCKLAND GEDDES'S VIEWS ON

THE OUTLOOK

COMPETITION OF GERMANY, JAPAN AND AMERICA

(By Telegraph-Press Association-OoryrleM (Ilec. October 12, 5.5 p.m.) Londoij, October 10. Sir Auckland Geddeii, m a speech at the Aldwycli Club, on the outlook for British trade, referred to the great fear expressed that British traders were likely to be seriously hit by Germany, Japan and America. He said, that careful investigation showed that perhaps it would be many years before Germany would rank among the s;reat 'manufacturing nations of the world. She lacked raw materials, and her workmen were hopeless and dispirited. Dealing with Japanese competition, Sir Auckland Geddes said that the wages of skilled workmen had' increased sixfold, while' the cost of staple food had more than quadrupled. Japanese workmen were .in nowise as skilful as British. Another great bugbear was American competition. America was not well placed for world trade. She. also had her own troubles. Exchange also hindered American exports: Sir Auckland Geddes said lie was convinced that America would be unable to drive British trado out of the markets of the world. If the nation made up its mind to work together to serve the greater interests of our export trade, no nation was better situated than Britain to supply the world's shortage of goods; He sympathised with the workers' efforts to obtain a higher standard, but urged that greater production must accompany it. He denounced as treachery the action of manufacturers n'ho lyore ([uilty of limiting the output in order to keep up prices.— flentcr.