“THE WOKE OF ENGLISH MAN.”

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6603, 23 May 1925, Page 2

“THE WOKE OF ENGLISH MAN.”

One of the most encouraging things to be noted in post-war trade overseas is that the phrase “the word of an Englishman” still carries its old significance amongst foreign people. It comes, of course, from business circles; it is the foreigner’s tribute to the integrity of the Briton as revealed in all its dealings, and it is encouragng to know that not all the trials and tribulations of war-time and of the even more strenuous period that has followed it, have tanished the Britisher’s reputation for square dealing. In the home country, one may still see extraordinary instances of the faith that it placed in one business man by another, and proof of the fact that such confidence is well and truly placed. One striking case came to notice recently, when details were published of the methods of testing Beardmore steel in the great Glasgow steelworks of William Beardmore and Co., Ltd. It transpires that the Test-house managed there occupies a most curious position. He is employed by Messrs William Beardmore to run the test-house, where samples from every casting, forging and smaller steel product are prepared and tested in the presence of the inspectors from the firm’s various clients. Obviously, many of the smaller firms placing orders with Messrs Beardmore cannot maintain a local inspector of their own, or even “hire” one on every occasion. Consequently it falls on the test-house manager to act in more than a neutral position. He undertakes to act for the customer, and for this purpose stamps material to be tested with his own private stamp and issues the usual certificate.

Amongst what other people could such a position be maintained for a moment? . It has obtained in . the Beardmore establishment, and has worked with conspicuous success, almost since the earliest days of the steel era. Naturally the fact that it can function so smoothly emphasises instantly the fact of integrity of the test-house manager, but also the quality of the steel produced, and the fact that defects are extremely rare.