The Trade of England.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 10 December 1891, Page 3

The Trade of England.

* . For some time past (says the Home Newt) the cry has been uttered that the commercial supremacy of England is in danger. Pessimists, indeed, have gone so far as to say that the industrial progress of the country is at a standstill, that foreign Powers are overtaking the trade of Great Uritain. There is no reason whatever for these dismal forebodings. England is still, and always has been, in the fprefront of industrial progress, nor need she fear as yet the rivalry of any nation. People there are who declare that Germany has made successful efforts in wresting the world's trade from this country. The Germans have certainly been our most formidable competitors. They have pushed their trade in every quartet of the globe, and their merchants have shown great patience and enterprise. It will be a comfort then to certain people to read the last annual report of the German Chambers of Commerce : — The trade of Great Britain, having centuries of strenuous labor and struggle behind it, is now so supreme that tl.e hope hitherto entertained of overtaking it must soon be surrendered ; for the present all effort must be concentrated on retaining tha advance made by Ger« niany in every branch of trade and industry within the last twenty years." There is a full and frank confession. The German mercantile marine comes next to that of England, but at what a distance 1 The tonnage of the former is about one and a quarter millions, that of the latter seven and a. half millions. ♦• The trade between Great Britain and her colonies alone equals the total export trade of the German Empire."