BRITAIN'S COUNTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 3

BRITAIN'S COUNTER

COMING INDUSTRIES FAIB NEEDS OF- CONSUMERS 1 PASSING OF OLD SCHOOL ; V BY LORD SIELCHETT , The days have gone when the had to buy British goods because there were none others. Now we must persuade, the world to buy; and the British Industries Fair of next February is to be a spectacular recognition of the fact. - The tradition that "British goods woul<L always sell just because they were British is fortunately passing. Our manufacturers to-day are studying the needs of their customers not only - in every part of the Empire, but in every corner of the world,. and the result will, be on .show next February for all to see, at the heavy iiirj dustries section of the * fair in ham, at the White City, where the textile trades have their display, and afr Olympia with its extraordinarily variect range of products, from armies of tojf soldiers to the representative display o£_; chemicals in which I myself am especiallyinterested. ' * Quality Alone Insufficient Britain has always been famous for pro-> ducing goods c£ the finest quality. She is famous for that at this moment. But in> this year of grace, A.D. 1932, quality, lika,' patriotism, is not enough. We must keep up-to-date. We must learn from theUnited States the art of rapid change!." Machines and products of lasting are not wanted in a world where new, improvements are almost of * daily" occurrence, and it is my earnest,' hope that British manufacturer!; will so work that they combine quality with rapid advancement in the useoorJ r new designs, new methods and new improvements. If they do that nothing car: hold Britain back from recapturing world markets. Because 0ur'1933 fair will provide con* » cretc evidence of such a change in out*', look it promises to stand out as the greatest of a great series. It will be greatep, in size and it will embrace in its scops more British industries than ever. Manufacturers begin to r*ecognise that riot one. of them can afford to neglect the fair. Each year sees a few more laggard firms entering the fold, and the fact that, once a firm has begun to exhibit, it seldom ceases to do so* is sufficient evidence of . the benefits received. ' Prom Bangkok to Balfcam At the coming fair I am delighted to learn that there_ will be abundant evidence of the British manufacturers' determination to adapt their products to the different climates and customs of countries everywhere. In the Birmingham section at Castle Bromwich, for instance, there will-be shown porcelain and etirthenware which stand up to pollution from the air; steel-screened windows, made specially for use in the tropics, which can be opened or closed without disturbing the screen; safes of stainless steel with rustless levers for use in humid countries; goods.specially adapted for different peoples, such as kitchen balances marked according to the standards of weight of the land for which they are intended. These are but a few instances showing how the British manufacturers who will exhibit at Birmingham are adapting themselves to the needs of those whom they wish to turn into satisfied customers. V The same tendency will be obvious at the White City, where the textile manufacturers have set themselves.out to,weave materials as carefully for the women of Bangkok as for the women of Balham. The women of the East are being catered for in as great a measure as the womsnyof the West. ~ ' "Take It Or Leave It" Era Over - Turn to Olympia. The toy section alone is a triumphant example of British adaptability. Not so many years ago > practically made the world's toys. To-daV > every little German boy and vgirl with a toy tennis racquet has a. British ona. The home market for toys has been captured and the foreign market begins to surrender. -. •-£ February's fait- will sound the knell of the "take it or leave it" school of British manufacturers. We must remember that the trade of buying and selling is purely a business matter. What the European nations cannot buy from themselves they will buy from us if we have the gooife . at the proper quality and price. Success in selling calls for constant study of markets, constant changing of methods, designs and processes. We must win if, as I have said, we can do this-and at the same time retain the priceless British reputation for good quality. f f The British "Industries Fair is Britain's counter, and now that Ottawa is over, are all hoping to see buyers from the Dominions and Colonies flocking to Olympia, and the White City and Birmingham. May the home buyers place their orders well in advance and so hejp the manufacturer to get the wheels of dustry going; arid may our. friends frqm the Continent, the 1 East,:* and!" elsewhere come to us again in increasing numbers and leave fat orders behind them! The British manufacturer is determined to please them all. He has already-made next February's' fair a record one for the extent of its exhibits. May the buyers set up a record for sales! MOUNT ISA MINES AMERICAN COMPANY'S' LOAN CRITICISM BY SHAREHOLDERS A protest against the repeated borrowing of money by the directors was made at an extraordinary meeting of shareholders of Mount Isa Miues, Limited, m Sydney last week. ... The directors sought ' confirmation ©I their action in borrowing from the American Smelting and Refining Company^ £65,500, Australian currency, without se- . curity and upon such terms as to interest and otherwise as they deem fit. When this was moved there was an immediate protest from a shareholder- It seemed to him, he said, that the company spent money too freely. If it. continued, the company would be forced into liquidation. The directors wero pawning the shareholders' assets to borrow money, he declared. „,, • ' Mr. A. M. Hemsley, one of the directors said the company had not earned sufficient to pay all the expenses and interest on debentures, and tho directors had arranged to borrow £65,000, subject to the approval of the shareholders. The chairman said that in the near future it was expected the, mine would turn out 6000 tons of lead a month, was a big undertaking, and could not be done without money. Mount Isa was an outstanding place, and had earned world fame. The erection of plant to turn .oyt the 6000 tons would improve the financial position considerably. Another director, Mr. F. Hamridge, said the mine could produce lead at a cost lower than any other mine in the tvorl.ci, and if the output continued it yas almost certain that the company would -capture the lead market. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to borrow any more money. - , i When a shareholder asked what advantage the American Smelting .and Refining, Company; derived from lending the money mentioned, Mr. Hamridgo said there was none. The company was merely assisting the Mining Trust, Limited, in which it had ail intcre.it. If Mount fs,t lo>t anything the American company would lose - also. v •The resolution was adopted, but is subject "to confirmation at a further on January. 4, ; - V■ . V