TRADE WITH INDIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18758, 11 January 1923, Page 4

TRADE WITH INDIA

BRITAIN LOSES GROUNp. GERMANY FORGING &HEAD. Amid the feverish commercial activity displayed by nil parts of the British Empire in the endeavour to regain something like normal pre-war conditions of trade, India seems to he the only country which stands aloof arid apparently indifferent to the commercial activities of countries both inside and outside the Empire (Writes the special correspondent of a London paper). While the motto of most countries is “Full speed ahead,” India is lagging behind in commercial and trade matters, and products that mighr be greatly developed ana prove most valuable contributions to the trade of tans Empire are going to waste, while the import trade is rapidly passing into the hands of foreign nations. English merchants, both in India acid in England, arc apparently either indifferent to or ignorant of the state of things which is being rapidly created. Time was when British firms could afford to sit quietly in their offices, and wait for the trade that came to them, but those days are gone for ever. British goods no longer hold the premier place; in fact, they are daily losing their popularity, and being relegated to the fourth or fifth position in public favour. AN OLD RIVAL REAPPEARS. During the war a great falling off of British trade was to be expected; Japan eagerly seized the opportunity presented, and for a while took premier place as the principal trading country with India. America, too, was equally alive, to the favourable trade conditions the war created, and entered the lists as a formidable rival to Japan. With the return of peace conditions rapidly changed, and while British firms remained more or less apathetic and made

,no special efforts to regain their former position. Germany threw herself wholeheartedly into the fight, and centred all her power upon becoming the premier nation trading with India. CAPTURING FRESH MARKETS. Prior to the war Germany controlled practically the whole of the Indian hide trade, and she has again secured the monopoly of this industry. Not content, however, with regaining the trade she formerly held, Germany is determined to capture fresh markets, and India, as a result, is flooded at the present moment with German goods, chiefly hosiery, glassware, and toys, which are being so energetically pushed by native shopkeepers and in the bazaars that ft occasions no surprise to Learn that the commissions paid upon the sales of these'' goods are so high that little profit rs left for the merchant. German traders and merchants, however, are for the moment not concerned about profits—what they desire to do is to capture the markets, and to do this they are content for the moment with small profits. NO PREJUDICE DISPLAYED. It must, of course, bo borne in mind that

there is no prejudice against German goods with Indian purchasers. They are compelled, owing to poverty, to buy in the cheapest market, and Germany has been quick to see this and arrange her prices accordingly. Owing to the political condition of the country and to the insecurity felt by English merchants, English trade is rapidly declining, and the only satisfactory feature is that Australia is awake to the possibilities, and is developing trading facilities with India as rapidly as possible. Japan has lost her premier .position, and both England and America shows signs of decreasing trade. _ . . . Next year, according to the opinion of many prominent English merchants in India, will witness a very great expansion of German trade, with Australia forging ahead into second place, and America and England bid third and fourth respectively. Unless English merchants arouse them'selves from the apathy and indifference which seems to have token possession ot them, England trade with India is doomed.