HANDICAPPING BRITISH TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7399, 27 February 1902, Page 2

HANDICAPPING BRITISH TRADE.

In order to emphasise the necessity for the formation of an Imperial

Customs Union or taking other stepa to foster British trade, it is only necessary, says the Mercantile Record, to glance the tactics of competing nations and the way in which they take advantage of the British "open door." Reviewing the trade of the Straits settlements, Engineering points out the effect of the rate of freights controlled by the Shipping Conference, and the disadadvantages under which British manufacturers are placed. .For instanca, New York tin importers pay 15s a ton, compared with 27s 6d paid by the Liverpool consignee — a distinct advantage to tho American tinplate maker over his Welsh rivals. Meanwhile, it is reported tbatMacasser and Java are receiving cargoes formerly sent to Singa pore, and thus trade is being diverted from the Settlements. In its comments, the Eccord points out that the growing influence of Germany as an over-sea carrying power is more marked than ever, a result which our contemporary attributes in a large measure to tho tactics of the Shipping Conference, •• who, not content with ousting British tramp steamers frpm these soae, now notify that ' shippers are warned that shipments by eailer may bo prohibited (except to Marseilles) to all Conference supporters/ which indicates a very selfish policy on the part of the Conference." The Record conoludes as follows :—": — " The tonnage of the German shippiug in these waters has enormously increased of late, and the Germans hava principally bern fitted from the action of the Shipping Conference, which, by arbitrarily raising freights, has tended to drive trade to other neighbouring port?, from a Bangkok paper it appears that, whereas formerly 80 per conti of the shipping th-it entered that port was British, now Germany has thi lead. Of the 440 steamers that entered the port in 1900, 44 per cent, were under the German flag, and 38 per cent, under tha British. Of the total value of cargoes from foreign countries, 58 per cent, came by German vessels, and 34 per cent, by British. Of the outward cargoes to foreign countries, 54 per cent went in German and 84 per cent, in Briti. h bottoms."