TRADE OF GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 12

TRADE OF GERMANY.

FEW EXPORTS TO ENGLAND. NEW ZEALANDER’S TOUR. London, October 27. A resident of Christchurch, Mr. E. M. Sanfiton, has lately returned from a tour on the Continent. Since setting out on liis travels, however, he has spent a month in South Africa, and about three montus in America. His Continental trip included Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and France. So far as could be ascertained, he says, the German factories are all working full time. The great Leipzig Fair, however, had been rather a failure. There was no business done, and many of the most important firms were not exhibiting. Where the German goods are all going to it is difficult to say. Some are going to Holland and adjoining countries 1 , a fair amount to South Africa, which has no special tariff against them, but not a great deal seems to be exported into England. It would seem, therefore, that a Very large proportion of the manufactures is being absorbed in Germany itself. German business men express the opinion that their trade would prosper if only they could get the mark stable, however low the exchange, and if the tariffs against their goods were not too high.

“So far as 1 could gather.” said ®Mr. Sanston, “the German people are spending all their money and not attempting to save anything. T do not think Germany is a serious- factor in the trade position at present, nor will it be for some very considerable time.”

Passing through the country in the trains he noticed that the women were the chief workers in the fields. They numbered some four to every man. France, of course, had its women workers, but not such a high proportion as in Germany. “I saw no war trophies in Germany. Nor did I see any monuments to their dead nor any evidences of victories.” Like many others, Mr. Sanston was wonderfully impressed with the Oberammergau Passion Play, which he and Mrs. Sanston were fortunate enough to see—more fortunate than many others, perhaps, because it was on the first fine day for several weeks, and the thousands of actors appeared for the first time during the season with new clothes. The wonderful performance, however, has been described by many writers. What may not generally be known is that the Americans are trying to imitate it in their own country, and have offered Anton Lang, the man who takes the part of Christ, a princely salary if he will act in America. His answer is that he will consent on one condition—that the Americans w T ill take the mountain which overlook* the scene of the sacred play with them as well. In France Mr. Sanston found things apparently very prosperous. Business men are making big efforts to capture the export trade, and their agents are very sanguine of succeeding. A big business already seems to be done with England and some of the Dominions.