WORLD RACE FOR TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12431, 27 April 1926, Page 7

WORLD RACE FOR TRADE

DESPITE THE WAR, BRITAIN IS REGAINING HER POSITION

GREATEST VOLUME OF EXPORTS IN MANY INDUSTRIES SHE “CAN BEAT AMERICA HOLLOW” By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Asociation. (Received April 26, 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 26. The “Daily Chronicle” publishes an article by Sir Leo Chiozza Money on the world race for trade. Sir Leo points out that seven years after the end of the ' world war Britain was able to export manufactures valued at 616 millions sterling in a single year, this being more than any other country in the world—“a fact which helps us to preserve a sense of proportion. No area in the world presents such a closely-packed hive of industry as Britain. It is said that workmen earn up to £2O a week in America, but the average in New York City is 32 dollars. “Britain can beat America hollow in shipbuilding, cottons, woollens, worsteds and furniture. The system at the Morris motor works, at Cowley, where manufactured parts are assembled on a fixed track, compares favourably with the Ford conveyor system. Passing along the track, the chassis grows to completion in 100 minutes. The men are fed at each point of the track with finished parts, which they have to fix, and the engine is dropped from above. Nine men fix the engine and the back-axle in 100 seconds. “It is noteworthy that the Morris voutput has grown more quickly even than the Ford, increasing from 1932 cars in 1920 to 53,587 in 1925. The average earnings of the Morris employees are £& c 2s 6d a week.”

“BRITAIN IS WINNING WHI

iRE CRAFTMANSHIP TELLS”

(By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, April 26.

The wonderful recovery of Canada from the post-war depression was touched upon to-day by Mr L. B Beale, who arrived from Vancouver by the Niagara to take up the post of British Trade Commissioner in New Zealand.

One very gratifying phase of the trade recovery, lie said, was that Great Britain had shared largely in the results of the increased prosperity. Mr Beale has been in Canada in the trade commissioner service since the end of the Great War, and recently his headquarters have been at Vancouver. His territory extended eastward for nearly 2000 miles to the Great Lakes

During the period of his service, he said, ho had witnessed the recovery from the depression, which probably hit Canada as hard as any other country, to what now appeared to be a sound and normal basis. Canada’s export trade in many products had changed since the war, for the United Kingdom had now become her largest customer, even out-distancing the United States in that regard. In the reverse direction, Britain’s share of Canadian imports had increased from 8 to 20 per cent., and that during- most difficult times. As showing the real importance of this movement, British exports to Canada had increased at the rate of about £200,000 a month for the past 18 months. Among the more notable increases were those in connection with electrical apparatus and the more fully finished products, where skill and accuracy in manufacture were called for.

It was, in fact, this capacity of the British manufacturer to turn but a better article than his competitors that was helping Great Britain to recover her prestige and trade in many fields. The tendency with .most countries was to endeavour to make their

own goods, but, despite this, Britain was winning where craftsmanship told. Experience, the long establishment of industries, and the handing down of trades from father to son, were factors that stood to Britain, enabling ber to improve her position from year to year. Although secondary industries are of increasing importance in Canada, Mr Beale painted out .that the country’s strength as yet rests on the production and ex-port of primary products. GROWTH OF DAIRY INDUSTRY One of the features of the progress of Western Canada was that not only had there been a great increase 1 in the area planted in wheat, but the dairying industry was flourishing. Wheat now covered 21 million acres in the West, and there was a further 10 million acres in other coarse grains. The growth of the dairy industry was phenomenal. The production of factory or creamery butter, as distinct from dairy or farm butter, had increased from a few thousand pounds to £10,000,000 last year. Most of this was for home consumption, hut a deal went from Vancouver in refrigerated ships via the Panama Canal to the United Kingdom. MINERAL PRODUCTS One other important factor in the progress of Western Canada was the growth of mining in British Columbia. Last year’s output was a record, and it was almost certain that the production this year would exceed that of 1925. A great many new properties were being opened up in all Canada’s leading minerals, which included silver, lead, zinc and copper, the largest copper mines in the Empire being located in British Columbia. Canada’s geographical position was largely in her favour, for she was near the great markets of Europe, and the huge population of the United States was just over the border.