BRITISH METHODS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2473, 12 April 1909, Page 7

BRITISH METHODS.

THE MENACE OF THE EAST.

TRADE COMMISSIONER’S VIEWS

Mr. 0. Hamilton Wickes, 'British Trade Commissioner in the Commonwealth, is at present paying a short visit to Sydney. Speaking to a representative of the “Sydney Morning Herald” Mr. Wickes gives some interesting statements as regards British methods. In regard to the present tariff he stated that the preference accorded was ’ undoubtedly a help to the British manufacturer in many cases, but still there were things neglected in that tariff that could also help. And this without injuring Australian manufacturing interest in any way, for he fully realised and agreed with the doctrine that Australia, as far as possible, should be for the Australian manufacturer. He had had many instances pointed out to him by English manufacturers wherein the Australian tariff put a duty on things that could not possibly be made in Australia, and on the other hand gave 811±ish makers 5 per oent. or 10 per cent, -preference on articles in regard to which they already commanded the world’s trade. His department would always be willing to help in avoiding anomalies, if its assistance were sought; hut the British Government itself on tio consideration asked for preference in regard to anything—it was always prepared to pass on representations from its manufacturers, but was always as careful to explain that those representations were merely being passed on, and were by no means recommendations from the British Government itself. He, being a Government official, could in this particular direction do no more than point out to th Federal authorities just m what way preference would be. of service to .. British manufacturer. He was m view of this, desirous of getting into touch with representatives from Home manufacturers' in Australia and was even now compiling a kind of business directory- in relation to them.. The information such men could give km mi D he of great service to both Britain, and Australia, and he emphasised the fact that, liis being in a Government dep a *i> anent, any such information would necessarily be strictly confidential Questioned as to the state of trade m England, Mr.. Avxckes said , St of people in England, who, perhaps, JSclr CiiS 4 bMbut rit hand ii:%c,ds of r e of the bigg cen--3 “eddy sellthoh- goods in the Irlinkris z % v rv i: +|ip most significant ’silSHilSi goods under tiie guise oi ... 0 f tX maxfcTas u British one. These things indicate that th foreign manufacturer recognises that the British goods aje. tne hestliis complimentary imitation, other hand I have never yet met a purchaser who is not prepared to say that British goods and British me of supply are, taken all m a,y t 'honest and straightforward. As to the manufacture of cheap, lines in foreign countries to the detrimen of British trade, Mr Wickes said there was a good deal of this. ‘‘But what are •you going to do in a case like this, told ane by a wholesale hardware man recently: Enamel ironware is made cheaper in Germany than m England He stocked both. He knew that the Ge wnan article at 2s 9d would only last three or four months,and he a.so knew that the British article at 3s 9d w ould last a year, yet notwithstanding that be pointed this 7 out, the public invariably bought the cheaper article on on, this will do me’ principle. “Isn’t there a tendency on the parr of the British manufacturer now' to make cheaper articles in order to com- , pete against the cheap foreign goods? “To a certain extent,” replied Mr. Wickes, “but the average Bntisn manufacturer will tell you Hat he hkes to give value for money, and that be finds markets lost to him by the. incursion -of cheap goods almost invariably come hack to him in the long run. Of -course there are cases wherein the -cheap stuff is good stuff, and then the •British manufacturer has to set to work to fight for the market again. I must admit that there is no defence for the British attitude in regard to some things. Take, for instance an improved American saw, which is having a b g sale here now. Samp es of reached England long before it got to Australia, and,, although the advantages of it are obvious the English manufacturers could not be persuaded to turn out a saw like it. and as a conscouence, the wliolg of the Austiahan trade was lost. But still ther ® , I ® n . onlv the British manufacturer who is a hide-bound ass in some cases We have many instances of both Germans *nd Americans refusing to take advau-4-orrc 0 f opiKirtunities like that, inerc t for Simple, the case of the big .up-to-date American firm who were asked to send cut fierambulatois^vith holland covers, for which a big cleman was setting in, but they refused to replace the orthodox American cloth with holland, and, -as vmi are netting out new With no covers on at all and the bohand made up and pnt on ij>caiiy It i? easy- to howl at the Briton for lus SiorvK, but he is not altogether •alone in many cases of this kinci. <; Do I think Australia sound commercially? Why. should she be any different from Britain. Her p P*. . Britidi her business men aie Britisn,. doinn business on British lines. And fSIS are by no means unsound, in th° Germans and otheis will you? for they send their men over to learn our systems. n . “Tliere must be a great this country, commercial \]y and I look to th£ Commonwealth to cairy the ba «r ner of business rectitude and hones y -in the Pacific. , You have a magn.ficcnt vantage point wherefrom to pierce into the heart of the people to lart and north. A lot lias been sa about your fearing the nmltrtndes Si STvftZ S',' S to’’«u”ply''them. Get your country oiilrl Yvlth Then smite hip and twiAl mSTr comnrorcially, of course Thf‘Eastern danger’ is really your business opportunity.”