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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2575, 9 August 1909, Page 4

BRITISH TRADE WITH CANADA. '■ 1 ' ) . ___ y It is only natural that the pushful American should prove a keen competitor with British manufacturers for Canadian trade, but' few of us would have anticipated that the Britisher has been pushed out of the Canadian market at the rate that has been disclosed by official returns. The recently published Canadian statistics give the following results for various years • ' ending March. 31. and it will be observed that the United Kingdom has been steadily losing ground, while the United States kflfi been, as steadily advancing;

The course of British imports was uniformly downwards except in ono year, 1904, and that of the United States uniformly upwards except in the same year. Yet in 1897 a preference on, British goods was granted, and this was raised in 1900. At the present time British goods pay about 83 per cent, less duty than' those of the United States or other countries. The reasons why British trade has not held its own better have been the subject of recent investigation by, Mr. R. Grigg, on behalf of tho British Board of Trado. In his valuable report on the subject ho draws attention to the feeling in Canada “of surprise and even impatience that ,notwithstanding the advantage of preference in -tariff and preference in goodwill, British goods are not sold in larger quantities to Canada. The belief prevails that British manufacturers and merchants are ‘too conservative.’ ’ Some of the chief causes of the success of foreign competition he states as follows :

British heads of firms do not obtain close knowledge of Canadian conditions by visits to Canada, whereas United States manufacturers keep in close personal touch with the Canadian market. The British commercial traveller is less aggressive than his American rival. American and German manufacturers arc more ready to adapt themselves to Canadian requirements and to fill orders as the buyers want them. The packing of American goods is better. Thus British hardware is often put up in parcels of brown paper, whereas American is in wooden boxes, with sliding lids, so that it can he easily and without trouble shown to the purchaser. British traders do not advertise in the right way and in the most suitable journals, whereas American firms

have reduced advertising to a science

This report strikes a severe blow at the self-esteem of the Englishman, for Mr. Grigg’s finding does not suggest that the American manufacturer enjoys advantages not obtainable to the Britisher, but simply that ho is more alert and keen in his trading.

Percentage of Imports intp Canada. From U.K. From U.S.A. 1869 56.2 .. 34.0 1892 35.6 .. 44.9 1899 24.7 .. 59.2 1904 25.3 .. 58.7 1909 23.6 .. 60.4