WORLD WIDE SALES.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18619, 23 April 1932, Page 20 (Supplement)

WORLD WIDE SALES.

EMPIRE-WADE AND MARKETED. “World-wide” is a claim that is often unfittingly used. On the other hand, many institutions, which are really international, are often considered to exist only in the land of tiieir origin, and that the majority of the raw materials used in the production of their goods, etc., is procured from within that country. That this is er--1 roneous in many cases can be demonI strated by taking the specific case of ( The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., | Ltd. I Goodyear is the leader in the rubber industry, and, contrary to popular opinion, belongs to many countries, i Although this company was originally j started in America with American capI ital, materials and workmen, time has I seen it grow and spread until to-day j its products can lay claim to being proi duced in numerous countries. It pays j income taxes to many governments. Its factories operate under many flags. [ The stocks and shares of the individ- : uai companies which control these fac- : tories are largely owned by the citi— I zens of the countries where they are | ! situated. . j | All the fabric used in the English ' i and Australian factories is obtained 1 from English cotton manufacturers , while practically all the fabric used in ; tire Canadian factories is produced within that country. Of course, the I rubber used in all factories is a pro- ■ duct of British plantations and it is estimated that (lie above factories will consume s<‘t million pounds this year. In fact, in Goodyear factories through- ! out the Empire during 1930, the two materials represented approximately 63 per cent, of the total value of manufactured products—labour accounted for about 21 per cent. Thus 84 per cent, of the total manufacturing costs were expended within the Empire.

One has only to consider the facts therefore to understand hOw much a part of the British Empire Goodyear has become. About £1,400,000 ' per year goes into circulation for labour in these factories alone. About £40,000 is expended annually for coal to work them. The total value of securities held by local citizens in the English, Canadian and Australian factories is £3,024,934. Surely there is no doubt about the fact that Goodyear is in part at least. British, and that its products from the above factories arc British made—products of British capital, British workmanship, and British materials.