BRITAIN & AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 10 September 1914, Page 6

BRITAIN & AMERICA

WHICH SHOULD BE FAVOURED? A MATTER OF PREFERENCE. German manufacturers for the time being are out of this market for lines in which thoy specialise and lines in which they compete with both Great Britain and the United Stntes. It may be a long time before tho German exporter will be able to pick up the broken threads of his trade with Australasia, and one of the minor, but not negligible, factors will be tho overcoming of prejudice against articles "Made in Germany." Many of these when tho war is over will no doubt pasß into use in Australasia unknown, being in the nature of raw materials required in the manufacture of locally-made commodities—chemicals, both industrial and medical, for exu.f.ple. Some of the things Germany makes cannot for long be done without in this country, but Mr. W. G. Wickham, the British Trade Commissioner, is most anxious that, other things being equal, Great Britain should now and hereafter have the preference. In speaking to a representative of The Post yesterday, Mr. Wickham expressed a fear lest orders that Usually went to Germany should be sent to the United States— he referred, of course, to particular goods manufactured by all three countries. When he left England trade in tho United Kingdom had just passed over the crest of a boom. In Germany it was then bad, and had been so for eotne time previously. British manufacturei's, who had had orders booked for six, hine, and twelve months ahead, and aB much work for their hands as they could possiblydo, viewed with no anxiety orders going to Germany for manufactures in which they themselves specialised. The Germans could execute them at lower rates, and the British manufacturers were full right up with orders, when he left, however, Mr. Wickham found that the latter were not so sanguine as they had been as to the future, lliere was foreseen a slackening off of workj and German competition was growing keener. Then came the war. Ihis was quite unexpected, and no doubt British manufacturers (except those fulfilling military and naval orders) would be seriously affected by it. However, although British trade and ship, ping had been disorganised by the war, there was now no reason why orders that would be given to German houses should be sent to American firms, be- ' cause America was a neutral country, and cargo from there would be carried in neutral ships. The British ships were now running much as before the war, and the British people could be best helped by being kept employed. Ihis was better than charity. He said, give the Britisher the trade all the time._ It was badly wanted just now, and its resumption would do more than anything to help the Mother Country. To the United States the British dominions owed nothing during the existing crisis. New Zealand's import trade with Germany was extensive, and there was no reason why articles supplied by that country should be obtained from the United States when Great Britain manu. factured the same articles and was only too anxious to sell them to every customer m the Empire, and so keep the public employed and independent of charity, .