GERMANY AND THIBET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 226, 17 September 1908, Page 4

GERMANY AND THIBET.

WHY HERMANS WIN. London, August 7. The first interview with Sir Robert Hart on business prospects in China, which has been given since his return to England, is published in the current number of Modern Business. Sir Robert, it will be remembered, lias been the head 01 the Chinese Imperial Customs since 1803, and he has been responsible more than any other 111:111 for the IV--1 organisation of the Chinese administration on Western lines. ■■l should advise British merchants and traders generally," says Sir Robert, •■ not merely to send out what their mil's and manufactories are lilted to produce, but also to study Chinese tastos ; ■md to accommodate their supplies to the demands which they Hud exiting throughout the r'.mpiie. 1 am not. pv"pared' to sav to what extent it is a fact, but the' Knglishnnui is looked Up m ■is boiii" verv conservative in his business ' methods, in respect alike of what ' he supplies, and also of what he demands. On the other hand the ier- „,.,„ merchant, who during the last 20 or 31) vears has entered very strenu„„My into competition with the British merchant, is regarded as representing the class who are ever ready to study the wishes and wants of customers, and t„ do their best to meet such renmieuients." . . .. . Sir Robert Hart does not think that the Herman advance is due to more liberal ■idvertising ill the direction ol trade literature. Rut he attaches immense importance to the fact that renresentatives of Herman linns working in China include a larger proportion of men who speak Chinese than are at |,r,.s,.nt lo be found among those acting for British houses. - •■The railway idea." observed Mr Robert, "has taken possession of China, and a few years hence the country will, as far as' railways are, concerned, V verv much like a spider's web. Chinese drivers are in clmrg,. of nil the trains mi the Chinese railways; they do thenwork splendidly, they keep capital time, and there are very few accidents."