The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1909. RIVALS. IN COMMERCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2579, 13 August 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORING. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1909. RIVALS. IN COMMERCE.

Some interesting figures are obtainable from the Statesman’s Year Book with reference to the comparative trading strength of the three great commercial rivals —Britain, Germany, and tho United States. The following table slioavs the value of imports nl exports from the countries named, the figures indicating thousands of pounds in «ach case:— —lmports and Exports.— United

It is clear from this that in international trading capacity Great Britain still holds a commanding lead over her greatest rivals. Of course, foreign trade does not by any means represent the only indication of wealth. The United States, for instance, is to a large extent self-supporting. She still produces all her OAvn wheat, maize, meat, cotton, large quantities of avool, the raAV materials, whereby her 80,000,000 of people are fed and clothed. These are prepared for use in her own factories, so that a list of imports and exports will fail to include a large proportion of the United States’ Avealth. Qn the other hand, it must be remembered that Britain is the largest moneylender in the world, and to’ the enormous income represented by her exports must be added the sum derived from her investments abroad. In this matter Britain, in sporting parlance, “stands on the best of wickets,” for she has the peoples of many countries toil,ing on her behalf, and the income derived from her foreign investments has been placed at the enormous figure of £140,000,000 annually. There can be no question, therefore, that Britain is possessed of enormous wealth, and the chief economic evils of the nation at the present time arise from faulty distribution.

Another interesting method of comparison is that which shows to what extent, if any, Britain is losing in the interchange of trade with her great rival. In this respect the following figures are illuminating, although they would have been of greater value could last'year’s returns have been included: Imports from Exports from Germany into U.K. into U.K. Germany.

1903 ... 34,533,390 23,550,631 1904 ... 33,944,322 25,103,270 1905 ... 35,799,758 29,704,449 1906 ... 38,021,762 33,558,95-1 1907 ... 38,782,062 41,359,840 We are constantly told that German methods are so superior toi those of Britain that English manufacturers are being ousted from the German markets, whilst Germans are capturing the English trade. Certainly the statistics do not bear out this contentionI', 1 ', for up to 1907 Germany was steadily losing ground. A consideration of the chief articles of trade between the two countries seems to show that in manufactured goods the English trader is still able to more than hold liis own against this German competitor, despite the influence of heavy protective duties. »The following table bears out that contention :

Imported Exported V from to) Germany. Germany.' ‘ £' -

The, figures wo have quoted indicate that so far as the mere accumulation of wealth is concerned, Britain is a long way from being the decadent nation that pessimists would have us believe she is,rapidly becoming. It is obvious that she is not only enormously wealthy but that her channels of trade have not been seriously blocked by her free trade' policy. On the other hand, there is the distressing fact that millions of workers are eking out a miserable existence, and that the masses of the Old Country are living under conditions that involve a menace to the nation’3 interests. The task then which confronts the statesmen of England is to so distribute the enormous wealth of the nation that it will bo of practical advantage to every individual in the community. >

Britain. Germany. States. Year. £1000. £1000. £1000. 1905 972,616 663,904 521,851 1906 .. 1,068,566 745,858 5S8,703 1907 .. 1,163,785 805,195 657,825 1908- . .. 1,050,025 775,000 605,825

Sugar 11,693,907 Glass and manuf. 912,166 — Eggs 1,030,190 — and yarn 2,037,375 8,553,071 Wo aliens and yarn 1,467,824 5,415,051 Iron, steel, manu. 439,630 — Machinery 905,789 2,365,803 Wool and manuf. 1,964,465 Alpaca, etc. yarn — 1,859,313' Wool ... — 1,905,041 Coal, coke, etc. — 5,460,107 Herrings ... — 2,326,258 Ironwork ••• 2,833,901 New ships, etc!... — 1,260,851