THE LAST PRE-WAR GERMAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1924, Page 4

THE LAST PRE-WAR GERMAN.

COM MERCIA L HONESTY VANISHING. (l’ercivnl Phillips in “Daily Mail.”) ELBEIIFELD, Sept. 2G. During my travels through western Germany this week I encountered an itinerant British importer who was engaged in interviewing many local manufacturers and agents desirous of increasing their foreign trade. He knew most of them well. As we talked together a card was brought to him. ‘•Ah,’’ he exclaimed, “here is something interesting for you. Take a good look at this mail when ho comes in. lie is a ‘pre-war German.’ ” There entered an ordinary specimen of the business type—a robust, loudly polite person with the usual square head closely cropped and a tight lounge suit that threatened to burst its bonds as he bowed low and mechanically repented his name. He produced l.is samples, stated his prices, was giv»n an order, and quickly went away. “A pre-war German,” repeated n.y friend with mournful pride, much as he would refer to the last bottle of prewar whisky. “They ought to put ii'm in a cage and see that no harm comes to him. There are very few left.” FEW HONEST .MEN LEFT.

“By 'pre-war German,” he went <n, ‘T mean an honest business mail who can he depended upon to keep to the letter of his contract and supply goods that you can accept unreservedly as being ii)) te sample.

“The war has destroyed the commercial molality of Germany. Business mo’i have developed a kind of low cunning, and they seem to think nothing of trying to get the better of each other—io say nothing of foreigners--in every jos sihle away.

“They are dishonest in evading ‘axes and otherwise cheating their Government. If you cannot trust them as individuals, how can you tiust them ns a nation when they want money? Firms which ten years ago would have scorned to do a mean thing now on blushingly adopt all kinds of tricks in business. When caught, they bluster or smile weakly, oiler some 1 utile explanation. and promise to make amends. Usually their tricks are merely stupid and sure to he found out.”

British buyers who tour the manufacturing districts periodically usually have to waste a good deal of time wangling over previous orders which have not been properly executed. A consignment is found to he of interior quality and is turned hack to Hamburg. The German consignee begins a long defensive campaign when challenged, and often the dispute lasts for months.

An attractive electrical device is bought for Great Britain, and when the machines arrive they are found to he badly constructed and will not work Hardware which looks well in the sample deteriorates mysteriously in transit and anives in England or Scotland well below the standard agtecd

upon. The foreigner who can afford to travel through Germany at the present time will have many unpleasant experiences proving that the standard of morality is lower. He has to he constantly mi his guard to prevent, being defrauded in mean and petty ways. As a whole the working classes lia-.e suffered less from this deterioration than the others. I lur,e had an aged newspaper seller rush alter me in the street watli an extra Jd due to me in change. Hotel sen ants are as a rule not only attentive hut very honest. The same cannot he said, however, oi many so-called higher types ol Gor-

State employees seem to consider the lie. ■ring of foreigners one of their perquisites. It is a common tiling for hooking clerks at the big railway stations to “short change” travellers.

KAII.WAY I> I! I(! A NI) A(! E. I hr.l omooiitcrod this form of brigandage ;it l.oipzig. win r<* my change was rot iii noil in ii bundle of filthy noto.s, mostly of (i.l niul Is dcnomiiintions. After I left the window I found I had Ids too little and returned, liefortl I could say a word the hooking clerk, wlio was waiting silently with two (equivalent to) os notes in ids hand. Hung them down and ttimed away in disgust. I was prepared for the same procedure at Klltorfeltl when I hooked a return ticket to Hagen. The change came hack in a handful of tattered paper. Without troubling to count it f left the window, walked ten feet in a circle, returned (swiftly, found the hooking clerk lurking behind his parapet of tickets and said to hint. “Nut enough.” Two more os notes were immediately disgorged without apology or explanation. A telegraph clerk was about to try it at Cologne hut weakened at the hot moment and surrendered all the change due to me.