NOT OLD-FASHIONED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 9

NOT OLD-FASHIONED

British Industry Has Little To Learn N.Z. A GOOD MARKET "Australia and New Zealand are recognised as two good markets for British industrial enterprise and trade," said Mr. J. M. Denton, proprietor of Christopher Johnson aiid Co., leading steel and cutlery firm, of Sheffield, England, who is vtisiting Hastings, in an interview this morning. He has a fine opinion of the business people of these two parts of the Britisn Einpire, especially for the mtlnner in which they met their obligations during the troublesome slump times. "During ail the timo I have been trading with Australia and New Zealand, I have never been called upon to wipe off a debt of any of our customers in these two countries," he said. "Your firms have always stood up to their agreements, and in consequeneo there is a fine atmosphere of goodwill exiisting between the two countries. "I have heard it said that the British manufacturer is too conservative and is not ready to meet the needs of the market— -in other words, that ho lacks enterprise and initiative,". said Mr. Denton. "I can »ay emphaticaily that this is far from true of the average' British industrialist of to-day. In all types of industry the British firms have very little indeed to learn in the way of enterprise from other countries. ' ' He pointed out that, owing to the 80 per cent. duty on goods into U.S.A,, no great volume 6f trade was done there compared with other parts of the world, particularly with parts of the British Empire, but tit was a big mistake to think that the British manufacturer was' old-fashioned in his ways of business. He was quite ready to meet the market and to meet competition. As an example of this, he quoted his own particular industry and mentioned that over 9000 patterns of pocket knives and 2000 patterns of cutlery were available for selection by customers the world over. "Since the War the British workman has definitely -changed his methods," said Mr. Denton. "The old-fashioned style of- a man keeping to his one particular job has gone by the .board, and to-day the English workman is quite capable of tackling any1 work that is given him." Mr. Denton mentioned that since tariffs were imposed certain foreign firms had started up businesses in England and were competing with the British concerns an a rather unfair manner. In his own particular industry, he pointed out, German firms had set upbusiness in Sheffield and were turning out cheap and low-grade articles. Unfortunately, on these articles wero the words "Made in England," but froquently it was found that if the Sheffield firm was not in a position to supply the order, then it was filled from the German headquarters. "I have noticed a great deal of this cheap stuff on sale in New Zealand stores," he added.