MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1919, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

FUTURE OF TRADE. BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR ENGLAND; By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrlflit. Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 10. Sir Auckland Geddes, in a speech at the Aldwyeh Club on the outlook for British trade, referred to the great fear expressed that British traders were likely to be seriously hit by Germany, Japan, and America. Sir Auckland Geddes said that careful investigations showed that perhaps it Would be many years before Germany would rank among the great manufacturing nations of the word. She lacked raw materials and her workmen were lion: less and dispirited. Dealing with Japanese competition, Sir Auckland said the wages of skilled workmen, which were formerly pennies daily, were now sixpence, while the cost of staple food had more than quadrupled. Japanese workmen were in nowise as skilful as British. Another great bugbear was American competition. America wag not well placed for world trade. She also had her own troubles. Exchange also hindered American exports. lie was convinced that America was unable to drive British trade out of the markets of the world. If the nation made up its mind to work together and serve the greater interest of our own export trade, no nation was better situated than Britain to supply the world's shortage of goods He with the workers' efforts to obtain a higher standard, but he urged that greater production must accompany it. He denounced as treachery the action of manufacturers who were guilty of producing a limited output in order to keep up prices.—Reuter. DANGER OF THE EAST. Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 11. Sir Rider Haggard, giving evidence before the Birthrate Commission, said that within the next two centuries the Western races would cease to hold the dominion of the world. The teeming millions in the East were now learning the arts of war. All Western races, and also America, were restricting the birthrate. Extensive settlement, on tire land would mitigate the evil. The English and Australian experience had shown that people prefer to live in cities Sir Rider Haggard suggests an appeal through the newspapers to the women to save the Empire. The State, as a last desperate move, might undertake the upbringing of all children. Indications point to a decrease in the population of Britain, which would be undoubtedly much more comfortable with a population of four millions, but such a small population was easily defeated in war.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REVIVAL IN SPORT. I Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 10. Sport has recovered after a temporary setback owing to the strike. There is n record programme of fixtures of Rugby and Association football to-morrow, both amateur 1 and professional.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REDUCED NAVAL BILL. Received Oct. 12, 11.35 p.m. London, October 11. The Daily Chronicle states that under the Government scheme of retrenchment naval expenditure will be reduced to £G0,000,000. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.