MADE IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1920, Page 8

MADE IN GERMANY.

BRITISH QUALITY BETTER. London, Jan. 24. German goods, though they are only arriving in this country in small consignments, are already beginning to make their presence felt on the British market. In Edinburgh shops the old trade mark "Made in Germany" has begun to work its way to the front, and it js being found that in the case of a good many articles not only are the German samples usually of quite acceptable quality, but the price is in almost every instance far below that of a similar article made at home. According to the representative of a Leith shipping firm engaged in the importation of German goods, many cutlery firms in this country are simply crying aloud for large quantities of German cutlery, and firms in Elberfield and elsewhere in Germany have entered into communication with British firms, offering goods at enticing prices. There is no great supply of scissors, the small stock possessed by Germany being rapidly absorbed, but the goods which have reached the British market arc sold at a fourth of the price of the Sheffield makes. It must be remembered, however, that the prices quoted here are the manufacturer's quotations. Four-inch nail scissors are obtainable at 13g fid per dozen; six-inch at IBs 6d; while nail clippers are sold at the astonishing low price of 5s fid per dolten. The British-articles are nowhere near these prices. Knives form a large proportion of the imported articles, and, on the whole, are of a really good quality. A capital knife may he purchased for V. <«1, its equivalent in Knglish make probably costing about 7s 0d; and for 2s or 3s fid, an excellent razor may be obtained. Enamel ware can be bought in greater quantities than any other article, but cannot be compared with the British class of goods. The German ware is only dipped once in the enamel, while the British firms put their products through the process seven times. As an instance, a twelve-inch German basin is offered at Is Cd. the cost of the home made being 4s fid. Before the war German musical instrument* and toys flooded the market, and a German firm of toy-makers, who specialise in making dolls, are now offering to supply British warehouses with these at prices which completely undersell the British production. Some time ago a large consignment of handbags arrived, valued at about £13,000. Farnkly, quality for quality and value for value, to say nothing of style, they 'scarcely compare favorably with the home productions—except in price. There can be no question of the fact that firms in this country have agents in Germany, who are energetically pushing the German goods, which in the present high-priced British market offer an unusual opportunity for profit*Sllt>[V(ll