HOW GERMANY WINS TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 1

HOW GERMANY WINS TRADE.

While English merchants in Chiiui li’ko to be gentlemen first and men or business second, the German’s effort in the- treaty port is directed with unremitting energy and self-denial to gain a commanding position in the world of trade, and for this purpose lie labors day and night. So writes •Jr. !<’. A. McKenzie in the London Dailv Mail. In fact, China’s foreign trade is being sought by Japan as well as Germany, and England has now to look to her laurels, or at any rate to her money-bags. “lwentv years ago,” says this wcll-inlormod writer, “China’s trade was absorbed by Enland. It was a case of Bntiau first and tlic rest nowhere. - T Ins is no longer so.” He proceeds to describe the free-and-easy methods ot the English merchant as follows: — “The British merchant lias no- established connection. lie ieels that he can take tilings easy and enjoy tlio the delightful social advantages ot treaty-port- life. He is keen op spoit and the •autumn race saro to lum redletter days; lie closes his office early, and is usually pff at lour or five in the afternoon ; lip is a club man, and club life in the groat cities of tlio East is the most seductive of tamo wasters. Tho merchant makes a good living, or keeps up his average of orders with the Home firm, and is content. He does not see why he should toil at tho language when lie can employ a ’comprador©, or why ne should make his existence a round of exhausting duties. . . . With the German is it different. He comes with no established connection, and he has to fight for what he gets. You will find the lights burping in Ins office at 9or 10 at- night, and the clerks toiling over their books. He works

hauler and the works longer, and lie 'roes out into the highways beating up trade. He studies Chinese, and he insists that his subordinates shall study it. The German is the only white rival wo neijd consider seriously. The efforts that have been made in recent years to create scares over llussian trading competition are ludicrous to any mail who has studied Russian business methods. jp#i»pli trade is very stijidh