NEGLECTED INDUSTRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1926, Page 3

NEGLECTED INDUSTRIAL

HOW AMERICA CAPTURED TYPEWRITER TRADE. I he recently published Let ters of the late American Ambassador, Waiter Page," testily to his great admiration of our sterling qualities as a nation and to his disgust at our stupidity, says f-ir C. Marstoii in the London "Daily Mai.”

Among our stupidities he would surely have given first place to those superstitions which have imposed and maintained i:. this country a one-sided system of Free Trade. For patriotic Americans like to buy what they make or grow themselves, and they cannot appreciate the kind of patriotism which prefers foreign-made products to one’s own.

Now that the King has publicly drawn attention to ’the typewriter industry by condemning the neglect of British typewriters by our Government offices as scandalous, the public may lie interested in the following facts. Some 35 years ago the writer went to the United ISates to sell bicycles—a thoroughly British invention. Partly, however, through the iliHuciicc ot the American typewriter firms, a duty of 45 per cent, was put upon our products. This protective duty enabled the United States in a lew years to make bicycles so cheaply that, they actually invaded our markets, and would have captured them bail they sent ua suitable pattern. Here, then, in actual practice were results which contradicted the teaching of those who assert that Protection must increase the cost of an article. Now let us return to the typewriter—an American invention—and trace the development of the industry in this country under Free Trade. Thirty-live years ago America was sending us nearly all our typewriters, and to-day she is still sending us near, ly all our typewriters. Again,.we have been told by those Theorists who have so neglected the industrial possibilities of our race that Free Trade protects nations from Trusts. But for many years this country was in the hands of tin American typewriter ’I rust, and, so far as I am aware, it. is so still. Some twenty years or more ago the writer endeavoured to discover the valuation placed upon American typewriters entering this country. So tar as one could ascertain, these machines liourcd on our Board ol I rude Returns at about £4 cadi, while they were actually being retailed to the public at £22.'

Here again is lood tor rolled ion. It is surely obvious that the British consumer is paying an excessive price for his foreign typewriters.

Now suppose, in return for that 4o per cent duty on our British bicycles, thirty-live years ago we had imposed a similar duty on American typewriters—would there be anyone in this country using foreign typewriters P>davt And would not the price he tar Mow what it is at the present timer The reason why British typewriters have never made more headway in ibis country is perfectly well understood in the United States, hut is outside the range of Cobdenite comprehension. An infant industry is like an infant child; both need protection for proper development. As a child is handicapped in a struggle with an adult, so it is in the starting and development of a new industry. So far as the writer is aware, our present Government has as yet inaite provision for safeguarding industries like the making ol typewriters. Let its hope that the King’s expression of opinion may lead here to the universal use of typewriters which unmade in this country. But when will our officials realise that the (obilonite teaching of their childhood was lalse.