The evening times., 1900-03-26

! In communication to the Department of
| State James Boyle. Consul to Liverpool
| says of the superiority of American manu-
! features the following:
There have recently been a number Of
| communications and articles in the Liver
pool papers drawing attention to the fact
that American manufactures. particularly
in specialties had been accepted by Eng
| lish purchasers in preference 10 those OF
home production, the reason given being
that the American goods were better made
and handler than the homie goods and were
/ fully as cheap. OF late there has been a
! tendency on the part of English critics TO
claim that American manufactures were
preferred simply because they were cheap.
and it was often added they we're nasty
as well as cheap.
The statements referred TO at the com
/ mencement of this report refute this crit
icism and American manufactures can now
find plenty of champions in England who
base their support on the ground of actual
superiority both of workmanship and
adaptability. This concession has just
been significantly emphasized by the pub
lication in semi official form of the follow
ing letter received by the Liverpool Cham
her Of Commerce from we'll known bust
ness man:
%. desire to submit for your considera-
tion a summary Of the observations which
| have made during my close association
with colonials for a period of seven years
spent in Africa Australia and Canada, and
during a brief visit to the States
hau haf
man manufacturers are gradutlly ousting
us from all these markets. This truth. ir-
REPUTABLE from statistics. is scarcely ap-
preciated at time Of world wide prosper
ity but il will make itself unpleasantly
obvious when the inevitable reaction sets
in. find that throughout the countries
] have named there is a universal com
plaint-"YOu English will not make your
goods 10 suit our markets. You send your
samples and tell us to take them or leave
them-you don't care which. If we ASK
you TO alter things. you either refuse TO
do il or else you demand prOhibitiye prices.
Germans and Americans. on the other
hand. care for and ascertain our require
ments, and then supply our needs at rea-
sonable prices Furthermore. we are in
closer touch with the actual producers Of
America and German goods. English goods
go through too many hands,
ful enquiry and comparison, and find that
the German and American goods actually
bring better prices than English goods sup
piled for similar purposes. The reason is
that the former are generally either better
or more tastefully finished, and are often
more appropriate for the purpose for which
they are made.
i find that even near home similar con-
ditions obtain. Only last week ] went into
a commercial sample room in Stoke-on-
Trent and saw display of American and
German Birmingham ware. The traveller
answered my enquiries in words almost
Identical with the above. Further. gentle
men, ] would impress upon you that the
relative influence of the foreign element in !
our markets has most perceptibly increas- /
ed with each year during the last seven !
years but be il noted, We are not under |
sold, but only outclassed. From a careful /
study Of the position, ! am confident that |
nothing but prompt measures will prevent /
irreparable damage. And, on the other /
hand, l am equally confident that by judi /!
cious and immediate action not only may (!
the insidious progress OF our competitors /
be stayed. but the lost ground may even /
be regained. That this is feasible needs +
no proof if nv hypothesis be accepted. /
What is chiefly needful is wise intimate |
acquaintance with the needs OF our custO- (
merS ana an absolute knONIeuSe OF the taC- J
ties of our competitors.
The present is fitting moment to |
make thorough investigation of the condi- !
ton of our trade, and | venture to submit |
for your consideration method of enquiry. |
Let suitable persons be appointed 10 travel !
throughout not only the Empire. but the |
world. Equip the men SO chosen with am /
pie discretionary powers and with funds |
with which to purchase samples Of every !
class of goods of foreign manufacture. Let |
them trace each article TO its source and |
make a concise report under the following
heads ID Retail price; (2 wholesale |
price al distributing centre; 90 wholesale
price at place OF manufacture; (4) import
duty; 90 cost of shipment and expenses of
transit 90 number of Intermediates or
middlemen % suggestions as to suit
ability or otherwise for the purpose in
tended. and general remarks
" Let them also purchase similar articles
of English manufacture and report like
wise. The two samples should then be
sent for exhibition to the centre of the in
dustres affected. a shrewd man. too,
might make most valuable suggestions as
to future trade and local requirements.
q" One Of the many causes operating to
our disadvantage is that English mer
chants frequently overlook the immense
many Of our colonial markets-so great are
they that often the freight exceeds the
value of the article Germans and Ameri-
cans study this and make their goods light
er, but equally suitable, ard consequently
more salable.
IN 10