GERMAN TRADE WITH BRITAIN

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 273, 20 November 1919, Page 6

GERMAN TRADE WITH BRITAIN

A RATFi-CUTTING WAR

From what is stated in toy trade circles it- appears that actual orders for dolls have been placed in Germany by one or two firms (states the Morning Post). The price to be paid fojr some of the dolls is 6s 8d each, as against the British price of about 10s. Tho knowledge that these things are possible is having a very prejudicial effect on the trade in this country. Dealers, of course, make their arrangements some months ahead, and are now considering their requirements for tihe Christmas trade. They are reported to be holding, back theii? orders* until they see how far the removal of the import restrictions will affect prices. British manufacturers, as may be gathered from individual communications published in the current number of the ''Toyshop and) Fancy Goods Journal," ai'o alarmed, at the situation. . Unrestricted, import^ they say, will lead to the displacement of British labor. A member of the Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers1' Association stated, ins an interview recently, that German manufacturers are folio whig up their touting circulars by "sending to this country a. flood of. cutlery sample® at.. dump prices equalling only half the British cost of manufacturing. For example, weavers* fivcuick scissors,, which, cannot he made in Sheffieldi under 9s 6d per dozen, are offered by tihe Germans at 4s 9d. Samples have boon received, he> added, in London, Birmingham, Liverpool,, Glasgow, Sheffield!, and Hull. A sample in his possession is stamped "warranted lotrged steel,'* but bears no mark of origin. Among the German letters that have come into the possession of the National Union of Manufacturers is this.

"The terrible war being now over by Germany having been compelled to sign such a humiliating peace rvs the German citizen never expected but desired, I prosum© that the commercial intercourse between England an-d Grermany will soon be taken up again. I therefore beg to. take the first opportunity to offer you my services again for reviving a sound business for you in Germany. '*

Another communication from the Fatherland runs.: "Now that after an interval of more than five years correspondence is allowed again, we beg to <irop you a line asking you to let us know how you are personally, and if it will be convenient and agreeable to you to resume with us our old good connections."

"Exceedingly favorable offer for abroad on account of the low value of Gei-man money 1" is printed hi large type at the top of a price-list of a Nuremberg firm of tool makers. Mr Sidney C. Harper, addressing the shareholders of the Harper Pdano Company recently, said that a fresh difficulty which confronted the company was the withdrawal of the- import, restrictions. It might shortly load to German pianos being sent to this country at a price against which no manufacturer hero could compete. No fair competition was feared from Germany or any other country, but if pianos were going to be dumped from countries where the workmen .were paid 'ess than a minimum of Is lid per bonu.". andi where the rate of oxc.iiange was 75 per cent, below normal, then British manufacturers mu.jt protest, and keep on protesting, until the Government took steps to prevent this injustice, otherwise they would have tio close their works, and thousands of employees would be thrown out of employment. The duths imposed by the French Government on tho importation of English laco under tho new fiscal a.rransements formed the subject of protest at .i meeting of lace and embroidery, miiniuaet'irors rit Notttingham. recently. Objection was also made to the presant misleading system under which Nottingham luce is often sold in London and other shops, as the product of French factories.