BRITISH VIEWS OF AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1487, 14 January 1882, Page 3

BRITISH VIEWS OF AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

Thk Melbourne correspondent of the Bntish Trade Journal, in summing up the commercial benefits likely to be derived from the late exhibition there, compares the various exhibits of the different countries with those of Great Britain. Referring to the United States, he says : " Having briefly touched upon some of the principal Continental products, naturally the United States claims attention. This country did not make even a respectable show, and her failure is excused by the loss of a ship said to be laden with exhibits. But what she did was done well. Not only was her consul of good standing, but an exceedingly clever manager was deputed to look after awards and business generally, being readily assisted by some six or eight business men. Speaking of these representatives leads me to speak of the different way in which America does business, as compared with Great Biitain, The expenses of one of the representative of a certain American firm aic rather to be calculated in thousands thon by hundreds ; in fact, so profuse is the expenditure in cortain directions by the American house I have in view, that it is somewhat difficult to believe that the business, supposing they did all of it in their particular trade in the Colonies, could ever repay them. I presume, however, that they ha\ c the future in view, and that it is only a, part of a plan of introducing their wares all over the East, for their representative intends spending the next three years in India, China, and Japan. It must be borne in mind that this expenditure is not incurred in inordinate display, yet somehow at every turn one cannot help feeling that large amounts have been expended to good purposes. Ido not think it is because America produces better goods, or more useful articles at a lower figure than Great Britain, that gives her the market. It is because she takes proper care and adopts wider views in introducing her products to consumers, In the matter of locks for example, I am perfectly certain that if Willenhall makers would condescend to copy American styles they could turn out a better and a cheaper article by one half than those sold by Russell & Erwin or other American houses, whose goods, by reason of their compactness, neat appearance, and the complete way in which they are packed, screws, keyhole-plates, &0., being included with oach lock command so large a sale in Australia."