Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-07

with foreign trade. While there may
I've scepticism in the minds of some as
TO the correctness OF this statement It
is certainly an effective argument in
South African trade at present con-
stituted.
Great Britain's Advantages.
1.-THE export trade of the district is
very largely in the hands of the Brit
ish. This is a perfectly natural con-
dition Of things when it is considered
that this is British colony with trade
interests largely controlled by the
British and most Of the important i'm
porting houses owned by the British
with purchasing Offices and headquar
tiers in London. 1t i: tremendous
advantage.
Then again from the standpoint Of
public supplies. national. colonial and
municipal, British trade has the same
natural advantages for this reason:
most Of the officials of an engineering
character-that is. these having charge
Of public works or enterprises, are
British born and educated with a nat
ural affinity for those products with
which they are acquainted Generally
speaking, however, these officials are
most progressive and always willing
to take advantage Of improved meth
DDS or machinery, of whatever origin.
Three Per Cent Tariff.
Another feature favoring British
trade to a certain extent is the three
per cent preferential tariff applicable
to all parts Of the British empire.
| ut t, CT, <n
South African products. When the
margin Of profit or trade difference is
slight this is frequently a deciding fac
tor.
Americas Gain.
I'm 1914 American exporters sup
Piled nine per cent of the total prod
ucts imported into South Africa. In
1918 Notwithstanding q deere ased total
import, Americas proportion was in
creased to more than Is per cent, or
nearly double. That is in figures,
America sold to the Port Elizabeth
district in 1915 S6,00G.00O worth Of her
products. Anyone can see that this
trade is worth going after. While it
IS improbable that all this increased
trade will be retained at the close of
the war, when British manufacturers
are better able to meet the demands for
export trade a reasonable proportion
Of it should be retained and con-
stantly increasing American trade
should be developed. This opinion is
based upon IDEAS expressed by some OF
the most prominent Americans inter-
ested in South African trade, combined
r
at the present time.
Imports from America.
Among articles exported to con-
siderable extent from America to
South Africa are automobiles, motor
cycles, paraftin, petrol, rubber tires,
cotton piece goods end manufactures,
(should be increased). iron and steel
manufactures, such as gasoline on
eines, windmjlls. farming machinery
and implements, ha-ied and plain wire
tbig market, corrugated and plain
galvanized iron, cutlery. tools, general
hardware, paper, paper bags, station
cry. typeWriters, timed meats, fish and
other food products: lubricatinS oils
and a grist of others. From this list
the wide range of products which the
market of South Africa requires j.
easily recognized.'
Born in Gardiner.
Consul Wakefield vas born in Gardi-
ner and was educated in the public
schools there and at oh Augusta bust
ness college. He received his first
consular appointment through the
II on. l.. c. Burl2igh TO Orillia, Canada,
in 1898, going next to RangOon, India,
in 1908, and to South Africa in 1910.
HIS quarters at Port Elizabeth are
large, of necessity. to take care of the
steadily growing volume of business
for this district MS present office
force consists OF a v.cA-consul, cleEk,
two stenoGrlphers ts.G a Junior clerk.
Port Elizabeth Industries.
The Port Elizabeth district is pre-
emincntly stock raising country. ac-
cordng to Mr.. Wakefield, and deals
almost solely with r>W products and
hoastng scarcely any manufacturing.
The climate is very like that of South
ern California. but with less rainfall
This light and irregular rainfall is the
ore great drawback to agriculture. al
though it is probable with the climate
| and irrigation possibilities that this
industry may become one Of the most
| is best known as a great ostrich pro-
ducing territory, probably 80 per cent
| of all the ostrich feathers in the world