Conditions in Alsace.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1921, Page 4

Conditions in Alsace.

KXEIUIKTIC DEVELOPMENT BY THE FRENCH. i From a Visiting Correspondent). 1 have recently returned trout an extensive tour of the industrial centres uf Alsace, and was very much struck by the commercial possibilities ol this territory, restored to France by the Treaty of Versailles. During my visit 1 was able to inspect the oldest potash mine in the country, the Amclie, which terms a unit oi' the chain of mines taken over hv the Eieneli Government and administered under a regime ol '-(‘quest ta - lion, able directed by M. llcdmcr, senator for the Haut-Rhine. These mines were originally worked by the Germans hut it was not until the Armistice that steps could he taken lo assure efficient exploitation, owing to the tact that the Kalisyndiknt had previously restricted output, so as to prevent competition with the German deposits at Stasslurt. Under the new system of mining adopted by the French, waste is reduced to a minimum, and at the same time, danger is avoided by the filling up of exhausted tunnels. I was amazed at the amount of fresh work that has already been undertaken under the temporary administration, and at Hie Amelia mine l was shown enormous sheds under construction —some indued were practically completed—where a transforming plant has been installed, st: that the raw material ran he turned into tho finished product on tho spot.

Alsatian sylvatiile is stijienoi' m qunlilV to that ot Germany, lor the salts contain a proportion of HL 1 por cent pure potash, as compared with the German 10.'• per cent. Tho capacity ol production of the Alsa.tian mines is estimated to lie sufficient to meet the total requirements of the world lor Jod years, so that there should he no tired for Hritish importers to look to Germane tor then needs to the lutuic. THE WINE INDUSTRY.

Another industry that constitutes an iui)(ii'tant part of the wealth of Alsace is the production ot wines. ’I he slopes of the Vosges are coveted with vineraids, and in I!>*_'() a total of 72.'.,(in:s hectolitres of wire was produced, as compared with Ift-boL’l in I'.'LL Delete the war the Alsatian industry "as never allowed to stand alone, ami a great proportion ot the crops was removed by the Germans and sold as lihinc wine. However, the situation is very di lie rent now, .-11111 competition with tin* Germans is likely to bo very hitter for some lime. Sonic ol Hu* Alsatian vintages ate still young, hut the ((Utility of Ihe wine is excellent, and it should be a profitable spccithit ion to purchase now, with a view ot selling it' a lew rears’ time, when the wines have matured. Altogether. 13! I different marks arc offered Gy the Association des Vit iciiltein s d’Alsneo, and each one has its own special characteristic. THE TEXTILE TRADE.

Conditions in the textile trade ( Alsace are had at, present owing to the general industrial crisis which renders l>usim*ss difficult to obtain. The Alsatian speciality is high grade cotton goods, which arc printed in Mulhniise, the centre of tin* textile districts, and it ts in this line that tin* gieatos! developments will take place. Manv °f the biggest taetnlies were destroyed during the war, hut reconst motion has been taken in hand with such efficiency that normal activity should he resinned before the end ol the present year. As a field tot Hritish exports, Alsace docs not yet present many possibilities, owing to trade depression, hut the svmpathv of the people is cei tainl.> with the Hritish. Important work is 111 ptngiess at the great Rhine port of Strasbourg, and the Clin tuber of Comtucree of that city is administered Gy business men who realise lolly tin’ value of co-operation with the Allies of Eiaitce. The count ry is waking up I rout the lethargy induced by 10 years ol Ccimuti (leciipation, and its luture should he one of ever-growing prosperity. The ]X*(ipl(* are active by nature, and have many traits in common with the manufacturing population o! the Midlands and Ninth of England, Alsace is a country well worth, watching and Hritish business men should let no opportunity pass nl opening up new channels of trade there.