"BRITISH-MADE" GOODS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 41, 24 May 1935, Page 5

"BRITISH-MADE" GOODS

JAPANESE ENDEAVOURS.

FINISHING AT MANCHESTER,

The danger of partly-finished cotton goods being imported into Great Britain from Japan and re-exported as finished "British-made" goods was mentioned by Mr Percy C. Fish, managing director of J. F. and H. Roberts, Limited,' '. textile manufacturers, of Manchester, at the annual meeting recently.

"I, personally, have been called upon by a representative of a Japanese organisation offering printed cotton piece goods, which offer I turned down," said Mr Fish. "I was then asked if we would buy the grey cloth at advantageous prices, and it was suggested that this could be dyed or printed in Manchester and shipped to our customers in Australia as British goods. Again I refused, as I am of opinion that it would be thoroughly dishonest to certify goods as 'British-made' when they had only passed through the finishing processes here. I was then told plainly that we should miss business, as we would be up against the competition of other Manchester houses who had bought goods from this representative of the Japanese

house,

"If I am correctly informed that goods of this nature are being shipped out of the country as 'Britishmade,' then it is high time the export certificate is tightened up and the declaration amended to make it clear that spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing and finishing processes are all performed here so that goods can truthfully be described as 'Made in Great Britain'," said Mr Fish.

Mr Fish referred to the many problems facing the cotton manufacturing industry. He said that the industry for its success depended very largely upon export business and that most of the overseas trade was done with countries which relied mainly upon agricultural produce for their existence. These countries had found it expedient to reduce imports and to manufacture cotton goods formerly bought from Lancashire. Lancashire was not to blame for the present state of affairs in the export trade. If it were due to inefficiency, the countries abroad would not find it necessary to protect the locallymade goods to such an enormous extent. Lancashire, in face of the impossible conditions, had tried and still was trying all kinds of ways and means to obtain a larger share of business. Unfortunately, disap-

pointment seemed to be the only reward, as former customers, no matter how anxious they were to buy, were not allowed to do so owing to the restrictions put upon them by their own Governments.