PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 58

PATER'S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

German Competition

Somo time ago a North Island reader sent me „ Scotsman containing an illustration »hovrin» the comparative strength of the annies 0 and navies of the principal powers of the world. Another has sent me a Newcastle paper ; but in both cases J had previously seen what my correspondents wanted to draw my attention to. I am grateful to them nevertheless for their thoughtfulness and kindness. Last week I had another paper sent me -a German export trade paper, which rather interested me ; and for two reasons— it shows .-what the Germans are doing to extend their sea-borne trade, and it gives some amusing little bits of English as written by some German who has a very creditable knowledge of English, hut who hasn't quite mastered our idioms and our spelling. Abundance of statistics are given to show what strides Germany is making, and I certainly think, apart from what German papers say, that the export trade of berjnany has increased in a greater ratio than British trade has. Her mercantile marine has increased faster than that of Britain; and to a portion of the extent that it has increased faster, Britain has been losing the carrying trade, and most of the manufacturing trade also. Perhaps I'm not very plain. Take an example: Say that Germany has increased her over-sea trade by 4,000,000 tons, and that Britain has increased hers by 1 000 000 tons. Then it is only reasonable to assume that had Germany not been a competitor, a very large proportion of 'He German increase would have fallen to Britain. Then there is manufacturing progress to be considered. German manufactures have gone ahead by leaps and bounds, though the development has not been a natural one; for protection to keep out foreign goods and bounties to increase export of home goods are artificial methods of increasing trade. But whether artificial or natural, the manufactures of Germany have increased in greater ratio than those of Britain ; and the reasoning applied to sea trade, can be applied to production—so of the two nations Germany has increased both her mercantile marine and her manufactures in a greater ratio. We must remember this, however: industries artificially created may not be able to weather adversities ; and they may not, and probably will not, continue advancing at so great a rate as during the past few years. The progress of Germany politically and Commercially has, however, given the Geranans " swelled heads." They think that all nations are to go down before their onward jnarch, so we cannot wonder when their export journal says: — "The earth is but a small part of the world, yet it is our world, and we must be satisfied with it." (In this sentence, by the bye, the first " world " is Used for "universe.") And they have some reason to be proud of their advance. During the past few years Hamburg, Bremen, Stettin, Altona, Dantzic, and other ports have had millions and millions spent upon their approaches, and other facilities for carrying on a large maritime trade. In Hamburg the greater tonnage is now German, and trade has increased thirtcen-fold in less than half a century. One article deals with the development of maritime tra,de, and the important part the sea now plays in commerce compared with the time when navigation depended upon .wind. A century ago steamers were not used; then came paddle steamers. At first steamers of 750 tons were gigantic; now •wft have steamers of 12,000 tons and 30,000 horse, power. In "this connection the Germans are very proud of their steamship ICaiser Wilhclm der Grosse, which has been propelled at a maximum speed of about 550 miles a. day, a record unequalled, it is said, fey either 'the Lucania or the Campania. -What a difference from the time when M. [Fourier, the French socialist and economist, said that the increase of trade and commerce would necessitate the taming of lions siud, .training of whales, so that transport

over land and sea might be facilitated and accelerated. Another article deals with the commerce of the world generally ; and in it the question, What is political economy? is answered thus:— "lt is a condition resting upon a certain joint-slock liability of every state and nation ; and this joint liability is constantly spreading and improving. As regards culture every nation is interested in it. Socially, battles, sorrows, and perils rie constant companions of the nations ; politically, if- a shot is fired it will cause alarm everywhere ; economically, if there is some trouble in the exchange business in Calcutta, there will also be trouble 'in London and Berlin. If a famine occurs in India or China it will cause a diminution of the inclination to make purchases, which will be felt even in the very remotest industrial places of Europe." After dealing with the immense international trade which has followed the partial annihilation of time and distance by steam power, the article states that it has become necessary to increase the German navy for the projection and promotion of German interests ; for no great power can exist without a navy, and questions concerning traffic and power can only be decidrd by having a strong one.

China is being looked upon by Germany with devouring eyes, for she is a comparatively unopened country with a practically limitless capacity for trade. Enormous treasures lie buried and industries undeveloped. A population greater than that of Europe is waiting for the opening up of their country by modern methods of transit. There is an inexhaustible supply of cheap labour, and Chinese merchants are on the whole intelligent, zealous, honest, faithful, and reliable. What the most recent developments in diplomacy will result in it- is hard to say ; but it is satisfactory to us Britishers? to know that from 1870 to 1896 British tonnage in Chinese waters increased in a greater ratio than that of any other nation ; that in 1896 it was nearly .twelve times as large as that of Germany, the nearest competing nation ; and that in 1890 (I don't know why a later year wasn't chosen) 62 per cent, of China's exports went to and 48 per cent, of her imports came from Britain.

There are two methods of increasing tra;le which the Germans make use of, and which are worthy of note. A German commercial mission has just completed a tour and close inspection of Eastern Asia, in order to make every possible provision for extension cf German commerce. It has collected oil samples of native goods, examined the country, found out all possible openings for trade, has got samples made and priced and distributed ; has, in fact, clone everything that commercial experience can suggest to open up new channels for Germany's output.

Then there are associations of German merchants and manufacturers who seem to have agents appointed simply to advertise trade, to give all particulars, to receive suggestions, to make special concessions when so doing will likely result in acquiring new custom. A commercial gentleman in Dunedin some months ago told me of one of these men who was engaged in making all sorts of inquiries and gathering all sorts cf statistics connected with our imports and exports. He represented no particular firm, but was anxious to find out what could be done in any way to meet colonial tastes. He was willing to undertake anything, and was backed up by undeniable credentials.

Just a word or two about the English of the journal that, has prompted my Chat today. " This German journal," we are told, " purposes to make known more and more the capability of the German industry to the world's market abroad," and it asserts that " the German industry stands in every way as high as the times demand, and is capable to compete with the industry of any other civlked country !" The journal is " forwarded alternately without cost " ; the subscription price is "M.6. — p. a." (whatever that may mean in English) and it puts its readers in " the enviable position to get in connection with capable firms only." We are told that German traffic " is becoming more and more independent from English intercourse " ; that " navigation is independent from the wind"; that "harbours aie being artificially made of slime and rocks " ; that many capital cities are desirous of having this sea-passage (canals), and that "Berlin has had this desire since years " ; that the Rhine is to be deepened, and that this will " afford an enormous capital " ; that " living cattle goes to Italy since a number of years " ; and that " water traffic does not afford any capital for its up-keep."

The advertisements say that " extinction of mercury " is sold ; that goods are " pricewortfey " (a very good word, though) : that they have " polish for repolishing and dearing furniture " ; that " varnishes are indifferent to water-spot, and forwarded exclusively in well-seasoned and tested quality " ;

and the price of one article is given as "Lstr 3.16," which, means, I suppose, " pounds sterling £3 165." Such words as nsaJ (usual), Neptun (Neptune), asylium (asylum), etc., are, I daresay, printers errors. Bub it is easy to criticise, and the fact that theie are errors in spelling and in English, and that there is an inordinate amount of vanity in its pages, does not lessen the competition such a journal is the outcome of.