TRADE CONDITIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 September 1919, Page 3

TRADE CONDITIONS.

BRITISH MANUFACTURERS’ VIEW. AMERICAN COMPETITION.‘ Golldi=tio~nS of trade in Britain, especially in relation to American competition, were discussed by a well-known British manufacfurcr in '2l‘ (letter, :1 copy of which was received by a local business man. In this letter =’rhe In2nufact.ul'er stated:—

“I am glad =t‘o he in a position to assure you that the menace of the A.ln'el‘ic3nr '('.O1‘11p:l?tltiO1’l, -which {for a time looked so =thre.:2tening, has, at any rate for the present, passediaway. and in my judgment, is not likely to be resumed in a dangerous form. “I am not surprised. that the vigorous attack which the .?Xlnel'icans have made on your market produced an impression upon yourself and others, but I will only Venture t.O say in regard to this very venergetic eainpaign that it was not marked by that tolera-tion-and generosity wliieh nli_e‘ht be expected from Allies figliting side by side in a -great cause. It might have oeeurred to our Ainericzm friends that tl:-eir» British cornlietitors were eiigagecl in a life and death struggle, the brunt. which had been borne by the Bri~ Tish Empire before the Americans took 21 hand in the game, that hundreds of millions of our money lrad found its

way To the United Statcs——llC doubt for value received and gratefully acquired—but the fact remains that we in ‘this Country were unable to receive OVOTSCa, raw 111a-tofial while millions of tons of our mtel'ca.ntile marine were engaged in conveying Alnel'ieall soldiers to the seat of war, and our fleet policed and patrolled every ocean highwayein the general interests of the Allies_ Whilst all this was going’-on we were subjected to a great dislocation of trade and industry. Nearly eight

millions of men were sent ‘into the army and navy, apart from the millions ongaged in the production of munitions. It was hardly to be expected at a time like this -that we could defend «our trade interests as we have done, and as we will always do under normal conditions. “I think you will agree with .me that the moment was ill-chosen for such a fierce onslaught on our trade in the various Dominions. It has ended in am‘ somewhat ludicrous fashion, and it’ is one of the illustrations that Yankee‘ smartness sometimes ovcr—reach~es itself_ ‘ “I am sorry that you. seem to entertain the idea that the manufa.ct.urers in the Old Country make progress with ratlier leaden steps, but it is only fair to,remember the great crisis we have passed through, the enormous dislocation of trade and transport, the vast amount of reconstruction that has to be dealt with. I think you may take it for granted that. the energy and resource which was displayed by the Old Country and by the Empire generally, in war, will also be displayed in peace, and given the necessary time, and, believe me, not a day will be wastml., the old pro-eminence in ma.nufac~ tin-e. will be resumed by most of the inclustries in this country. In View of F the shortage of n-r-ndna"ii~"~n "in the lp.ast five _\'eal'.<, the demand at the fmoment. not only in our home market [but in all the European markets, is l very great. and although we are working at high pressure, We are not able to meet the demand for goods made ‘upon us. Under these circumstances lyou Will, I am sure, realise that it is ‘not the phychological moment for eni tering upon a campaign of active and i vigorous advertising.” —— Wanganui Herald.