Germany on the Inside.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 February 1921, Page 2

Germany on the Inside.

iiltnian O JJiNOiS.

Some interesting sidelights on \xermany troin within were suppuiu a t-nronicle representative by our ». jl'taucnei-, wiiu nas just amveu uoin Jingtana, ana has taKen up resitunce wun nis son, Mr i*. .cietcner, ot x< airheld.

Mr Fletcher went to Germany some prior to the outoreak ot war as mce aesiguer and departmental manager of a large textile nrm in Piaun, saxony. Altiiough war broke out in August, nothing occuired so lar as liritish residents in Germany were concerned till November i, wnen all were arr-stod. Very little time, was g.ven m which to makei any preparation tor departure, and the Britishers were summarily put under guard and; aiterwardts sent to Berlin, having to pay their own railway farts. Aixivedi in the German capital, they were kept waiting in pouring rain utotil they were wet through and marched to a German p. tson, where were placed in close confinement. After a fortnight soma of the prisoners were permitted to see Prince Bismarck, the military governor of Berlin, and a considerable improvement in the conditions was made. However, the firm which had employed Mr Fletcher madia representations to the authorities that it would be impossible for them to carry on unkss their lace expert was released, and if they closed down large numbers of employees would be thrown out of work. The request was granted, and Mr Fletcher released,. On returning to the factory it was found that the British blockade had cut off the cotton supplies, but importations of silk were possible from Switzerland, so the factory turned from cotton to silk manufacture. Mr Fletcher designed a pattern of lad.es' silk veiling, an article that became very popular, for in the. year 1916 the manufacturers turned over a profit of one and a-half million marks from this source.

THE GERMAN WORKMAN

Questioned as to the statements made regarding German industrial efficiency and the thoroughness of the training of their artisans, Mr Fletcher said that the secret of cheap Uerman production lay in these two matters. They ©emmenoed to tram their future workmen at the age of 34 years, but they w;re not full-time apprentices, and must continue at school three days a week. They lost nothing in wages by having to do so, however, as the factories had to pay the full rates. This was continued for two years, by which time the pupils were 16. Then they worked, full time in the factory, but had to attend a night school on certain nights each week. This also went on for two years, and) at 18 the boys, under the Kaiser's regime, were; examined for military service. Those who were passed fit served three years, but if an apprentice was engaged on specially important work his term of military service might l» delayed a year. Military training had a noticeable effect orithe men after their riturn to factory work. Thoroughly disciplined in the army, they tvere industrious and) carried, out instructions promptly, and their early aainiug at their trades very soon mad© them highly efficient workmen. They received every encouragement from their employers, and if one had an idea

Jiat was of "value he was given, every assistance in developing it. The Gov.rnmtmt also provided a fund* to help such cases, instead of leaving the man to his own resources. BRITISH TRADE METHODS.

The German is not concerned much about means so long as the fend 's achieved. In England, lace manufacturers, for instance, employ the best J.signers procurable to invent newpatoerns and designs, but the uermans uive differ', nt methods. They send travellers to London, who purchase samples of the most popular and successful designs and take them back to Germany,, whera they are used as guides for the; German factories. Sometimes i hey do not go bo far as England, but copy -the articles of rival manufacturers. All the textile machinery used in the industrial centres in .Germany is jf British make/, which iB regarded as

he best procurable. A German machine was invented and. put on *he market, but. , none of the factories

■vould touch it. They said tney knew what the English product could do, .>nd were/quite satisfied to-go ou with it. As regards textile goods and lace manufacture, these industries were not vii the same scale as the British, but the Germans were pushing business and ahead. They had an enormous advantage over France,-Mr Fletcher stated, because they had their factories | and plants intact, whereas many of the French had been destroyed in the war. Immediately the big crisis was over, the Germans set their industries oing with the least possible delay, and quantities of their goods were being dumped into England to-day. As a business man the] German was keen, and lost no opportunities to do business. He would go to any length to please a customer, end if aa article was nob quite what was wanted, He would plod away until it was right. . On attaining his 65th birthday, which exempted him from military service in England, Mr Fletcher was permitted to leave Germany, and arrived in England in March, 1917. Unfortunately for him, he had a considerable sum of. money in the German banks, but as he could not draw it during.the war it is still there, whilst the present rate of exchange being so adverse to Germany, it only represents a fraction of its former value. AM efforts to secure it, however, h*ve been unavailing, even with the assistance of the British Government, i