BRITISH FOREIGN TRADE.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 112, 27 March 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRITISH FOREIGN TRADE.

© A Memorandum prepared by Sir Courtney Boyle on " The comparative statistics of population, industry and commerce in the United Kingdom aud some leading foreign countries " has been published. Sir Courtney Boyle concludes liis memorandum with the following summary : Without attempting an elaborate criticism of all the deductions which might he'made from the figures given herein—a criticism which would necessarily lead me deeply into somewhat abstruse questions of political economy—l may properly mate the fob owing general observations in summarising the conclusions of the memorandum : 1. The increase of population in Germany and the United States has recently been greater than the increase iu the United Kingdom, and those countries, enjoying as they have a period of peace which has lasted for nearly a quarter of a century, have rapidly developed manufacturing and industrial power. 2. As with ourselves, so with those countries, the set of population has been to the towns ; necessarily, therefore, there has been a more vigorous search than formerly for an outlet for the power above referred to. 3. We are still greatly ahead of either country iu our power of manufacture for export, so much so that up to the present, the gains of either in this respect have had no very serious effect upon outtrade ; but beginning from a lower level, each country is for the moment travel ling upwards more rapidly than we are who occupy a much higher eminence. 4. If peace is maintained both Germany and the United States, and (to some extent) France also, are certain to increase their rate of upward movement 5. Their competition with us in neutral markets, and even in our home markets, will probably, unless we ourselves are active, become increasingly serious. Every year will add to their acquired capital' and skill, and they will have larger and larger additions to thenpopulation to draw npou. (5. It is necessary, therefore, more than ever, that attention should be given in the United Kingdom to the business of manufacturing for export. It is a mistake to suppose that the increase of wealth in foreign countries is, on_ the whole, unfavourable to ns 'Hie richer neighbouring nations are the better for us and for the rest of the world in _ the long run. But the change of conditions must be recognised, and we can scarcely expect to maintain our past undoubted preeminence, at any rate without strenuous effort and careful and energetic improvement in method. 7. The question how best cm this be done is one which interests consumers as well as producers, labour as well as capital The growth iu the effectiveness of foreign labour and in the results of that labour must tend towards an international assimilation of tho circumstances under which the labour is given, and any step which facilitates the transfer of manufacturing power from this to a competing country must expedite that tendency of which it is not easy to see the advantage to our working classes. S. The solution of the question of how best to develop and increase our competing power is one to which the State can only give limited assistance, The commercial position of the United Kingdom has beeu attained and must be kept up in the future by the untiring zeal and energy of the industrial community. The work of seeking out customers, providing commodities that customers will buy, exploiting new markets, and elaborating new methods rests with the individual. The State can only afford encouragement and help. 0. What the Government can do is to facilitate the supp'y of accurate and carefully collected information, and in the discharge of this duty I venture to think we are somewhat behindhand.