THE TRADE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18282, 18 December 1919, Page 6

THE TRADE WAR.

GERMANY'S BIB) FOR, POWER. FLOODING ALLIED MARKETS. > "TRAVELLING AS AMERICANS." IFhom Our Correspondent.] LOS ANGELES, November 15. German-made goods will Boon be flooding the markets of England, France and Italy, declared Mr Frank B. Mayer, president of the Essenkay Products Company, who has just returned to Chicago from a six weeks’ business trip through those countries. That gentleman gives as his reasons the present value of the German mark, which is now worth about twopence or less, compared with the money of those other countries, the proximity of Germany to those other markets, and the fact that Germany is liard at work producing the goods needed in those countries. “ In Spain and Holland, and on the trains in France and Italy, I met Americans of German birth, with German connections, after the trade of those countries,” said Mr Mayer. "They travelled as Americans, but they were ■selling German-made goods, and it ia my belief that despite the horrors and cruelties perpetrated by Germany she will eventually get back Europe’s trade. Germany is now guaranteeing deliveries after Januarv 1. MARKETS DEPLETED. “ There is depletion of stocks everywhere. In England, France, Italy, Spain and Holland, department stores and other wholesale and retail establishments have no assortments, and you have to take -what you can get. The people are determined to buy, as they are liere, and are paying the prices asked; profiteering is' general; secondhand, worn-out American automobiles sell in London now for more than they cost here. POST-WAR HARDSHIPS. " There is no sugar in France or England, and saccharine is used entirely. England has been on war rations since the railway strike was called. These apply to fuel, light and heat, as well as food# and everything is checked off by meter.■ If you have used up your allowance of gas, electricity or heat by the twenty-fifth of the month, you will have to go without until the new allowance is’granted on the first of the next month. As a result of the food shortage of England, there has grown fip the idea of community kitchens, where the food for every meal of the family can bo purchased, packed in baskets ready to bo carried to the homes and warmed up. AMERICA DISLIKED. _ According to Mr Mayer, he found little evidence of great love and admiration for America in the countries he visited. The feeling is expressed quite freely, he said, that the American capitalists are to blame for tho depreciation of the franc, pound and lira. Germany-is not experiencing strikes and labour disturbances, he added, while in Italy, England and France industries are more or less upset. In Italy, he says, there are 400,000 men idle, discontent is outspoken, and it woiud not take much to start a revolution. Unrest is also prevalent in France owing to scarcity of food and the depreciation of the franc.