The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-15
Trent Trust Co., Ltd.

the matter of railways, the glistening
tracks of which are extending into here
tofore almost inaccessible places, and
bringing the interior into touch with
the commercial ports.
Deceit Disastrous.
The Chinese are above all suspicious
of foreign representatives, but once a
degree of confidence is established, they
will rely implicitly upon the statements
of the would-be seller, who, if he is
wise, will never attempt to deceive. 1t
should be considered an&act of CONNER
cial treason for one to take advantage
of the Chinese dealer, for such conduct
not only brings the foreign dealer into
disrepute among the tradespeople, but
it will be lasting reflection upon the
people and the products of the country
from which the goods are consigned
News of any nature travels quickly in
China, even. though the facilities for
quick dispatch are not at hand, and it
may be confidently expected that not
only will the offending firm win the uni
versal condemnation of the Chinese
tradespeople, but that his countrymen
will suffer a like rebuff should he en-
deavor to do business within the radius
of the report.
Great care should be exercised in the
filing of the initial order, for kind
treatment and a manifest spirit of fair
ness will beget a confidence insuring
further business. The process of intro
ducing into the interior our manufac-
tured products win be at best slow
one, but no person desiring to do so
can fall back on the catalogue or pie
torial representation to win a Chinese
customer. Not only is it necessary for
a competent representative TO study the
markets and come prepared to meet the
existing competition as well as TO cater
to the trade demands. they must also
display samples of their Merchandise If
they hope to impress the tradesmen of
the Empire.
inexpensive Goods Wanted.
Apart from the supplies necessary for
the equipment and operation Of the
numerous railways in China, which are
usually introduced under a loan agree
ment requiring the employment OF per
sons from the country in which the
loan is made, which persons are placed
where they practically decide that, ir-
respective of the lowest bidder, ten
ders must go to their own home manu-
facturers, the introduction of the
smaller and inexpensive articles would
meet with more hearty reception. One
must not lose sight of the fact that IN
the interior of China, and particularly
that region extending from the bound
aries of the Yangtse river, the crude,
but effective, implements of centuries
ago are still employed, whether it be in
the housebuiIding, blacksmithing, or IN
farming. The Chinese are slow to see
better things in things foreign than IN
the articles used by their forefathers,
for II IS well known that the mighty
respect paid to their ancestors begets
an idea that what was good enough for
them must surely satisfy the greatest
demand.
The coming of the railways has nat1
urally stimulated the building trade.
Throughout all of the open port cities
one can notice the increase in the cree
ton of residences, sehoolhouses, GO
downs. etc, and it might be that our
saws, batchets and smaller implements
would, if properly introduced, find a
receptive market. Our medicines, while
being eombated by the Chinese almost
on every side, are gradually being re
ceived. and it viii be but a matter OF
a few years, if one can Judge from the
efficient and enduring work OF the medi-
cal missionaries, until the medicines
concocted from tiger-claws. Lizards,
etc, viii be lessened by the introduc-
tion Of the western brands.
Increase In Commerce.
Commerce in China has increased
tremendously since 1912 when the only
open ports were Canton and Macao.
Al present there are over fifty open
ports and when the Chinese throw open
the doors to further trade, they viii