BRITISH OR FOREIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 11

BRITISH OR FOREIGN.

COMPETITION IN TRADE.

WHERE ENGLAND EXCELS. CROCKERY AND POTTERY. AN encouraging sign. No. VI. Imports officially classed as " earthenware, china, glass, stoneware, cements and ce-ment materials," include asphalt, s commodity which, in 1924, reached a total vahu of £92,000, ot which the United States supplied £76,000. Seeing that Britain and British countries, with the exception of British West Indies, are hardly, interested in this trade, allowance ought to bo made for the amount in computing the percentago that British countries hold in the class. Even when asphalt is included, however, the figures show that Britain has recovered the market she could not fully supply during tho war, and in several directions has improved her position. A few of the items may bo quoted to showBritain's position: China, porcelain and parianware to the value of £76,500 was imported in 1924, of which Britain supplied £71,000. In earthenware Britaiu supplied £239,000 out of £252,000. Tiles (flooring, wall, hearth, and garden) were imported to the valuo of £BI,OOO, Britain supplying £77,000. In glass (crow:', sheet and common window) Britain secured £92,000 out of £98,000, and shared with Australia the preponderance of the trade in glass bottles. A good deal less than half the trade in g'asswaru not specified went to Britain, tho United States, Czecho slovakia, Belgium and Germany claiming the bulk Of the remainder. New Spirit in the Trade. Notwithstanding tho reappearance of fcheap Continental wares pi educed under conditions of labour that make it impossible for the United Kingdom to compete, there is every reason for satisfaction with Britain's position in this trade. In no other direction in which inquiry was carried was there found so many grounds for satisfaction as in tho crockery business. Of most vital import was tho fact that the British manufacturers of wares in this class havo completely shed themselves of tho old conservative spirit of " take it or leave it." " There aro no manufacturers anywhere," said a prominent importer, " who are so keenly alive to tho requirements of their oversea market as the crockervraakors of England. This was not always so. Before the war wo were compelled to carry large stocks of Continental products chiefly because the British makers would not supply quickly enough or meet our special requirements. To day 1 am glad to say 80 per cent, of the stuff in this warehouse is British made. I will give you an instance of how tho former attitude lost Britaiu business. Wo wanted a small jar for packing a New Zealand product, and approached an English firm about jroaking it. After a long delay we ■were told that another type of jar was all it could make, and in the end the order went elsewhere. The New* Zealand packer had decided upon the shape of jar he wanted, and was not prepared to alter his mind because of the lack of enterprise of a crockery : maker. Eager to Meet Wishes. " To-day that attitude has entirely gone. The manufacturers are eager to do anything within reason to meet the wishes of tho trade. They are doing what the Continental manufacturers havo done all themselves to tho requirements of buyers, and are fighting foreign competition most successfully, it is impossible to cut out all tho cheap lines of Germany and Czecho-Slovakia, where cheap labour, long hours of work, and the possession of certain resources in clay, give an overwhelming advantage, but, in the main and in all tho better class of goods, Britain is excelling. Evidence of the new spirit that has energised the industry is found in the inonthtlv lists of new pattprns and designs. formerly, the custom v.-as for a traveller to call once a year with the new samples, and usually the importer had to wait eight to twelve months for delivery. Now, delivery usually is mado in four to six •months This means 'noie f: arie. " English cut-glass is at tho top of the tree. Nothing can touch it. And, furthermore, tho price is considerably lower than before the war. Tho consequence is that cut-glass is now in everyday use—a striking example of how a resolute industrial effort is rewarded. In pottery Britain is giving quality at lower prices, ,jnd is getting the trade. Before the war ihe was losing ground in this department. Leads in Quality. " Coal is a considerable factor in tho industry, and in this respect the British manufacturer is not always on equal terms with his Continental competitor, nor with America where, in the manufacture of pressed glassware, advantage is taken of natural gas as fuel; but all along the line Britain leads in quality, and she is never behind in designs and decorations. Where she might improve her position is in cheap glass tumblers—a trade that has been left to the Continent—and in electric light bulbs. I understand that some of tne English manufacturers have interests in the Continent, and this may account for tho apparent neglect, of certain lines, but in view of the huge trade that is developing in electrical appliances, I cannot for the lifo of me see why foreign bulbs should be so largely in use." In, reference to tho possibility of British industry holding interests in Continental concerns, this importer touched a point which certainly cannot assist propaganda in favour of trade within the Empire, for even if profits aro being earned on the Continent for British people, the goods are being manufactured bv foreigners to the injury of the British workman. A cheering piece of information received from the importer interviewd is that a vory largo proportion of retail buyers demand British goods. " More often than not,' li said, "customers, •when shown a piece of china, turn it over to see tho trade mark, and very frequently, if it proves to bo of foreign manufacture, hand it back with a request for a British article. You would be surprised," he said, " bow insistent the public is becoming in its demand for British goods—in this trade at all events. Women are by no means behind the men in expressing British sentiment and in giving it practical effect. British industry never had a field of trade better prepared for it. Tho Government and public bodies have given a lead which the people are ready to follow." It,might be added that in the new Wallace wing of tho Auckland Hospital the sanitary fittings are entirely of British manufacture, and that since tho city purchased the tramways, rails that had come from a foreign source have all been procured in Britain.