The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-31
MUST IMPORT MORE
FROM AUSTRALIA

That the war should lead to In
creased trade between Australia and
America. but. TO hold this trade
America must import more from the
commonwealth. IS the opinion of the
Australian advertising agents OF a
large American exporting house. In
a letter to the export concern, which
! has been called 10 the attention of the
I Am erican Marufacturers Export as
ISOLATION, the manager of the Aus
traiian advertising agency replies 10
"a request for Information regarding
|CS1anged conditions brought about by
the war and the changed attitude--if
any~--of the Australians towards the
United States and its manufacturers,
merchants ct. IL Is pointed out in
this letter that the inability OF Aus
traiian merchants To secure import
cd commodities has had the effect Of
greatly stimulating local manufacture
This commupicat ton, which is OF in
terest to American exporters, reads
a fnllows,
Here in Australia we have been so
cut off from the sources of supply of
the many millions OF dollars worth
Of imported manufactured goods Of
all descriptions, that in all cases costs
have jun ped enormously. and In
many cases goods of n particular
kind have been altogether unobtain-
able
The result has been. of course, to
greatly stimulate local manufacture.
Not only have the Australian COM
panies hell their former |ade. but
users of imported tires. have been
forced TO equip with the domestic
product lin many cases against their
inclination. NJ doubt), and in conse-
quence must in future favorably con-
slider its .iai against that of the
foreign made article,
During my visit to the United
States In the summer OF last year,
talked frequently with men interest
ed in export trade. and l put II to
them over and over again. that they
were prone to view the foreign mar
ket az n dumping ground for surplus
production.
IN my jldEment--and I conclude
this on the premise that American
manufactures ~ the Australian field is
worth winning and holding--America
would have served it's own best in
terests by filing and shipping their
Australian orders during the war
period, irrespective of cost and even
II dom este supplies were left short in
consequence.
IT will surely cost as much to re-
gain the position lost here through
inability to supply the demand. and
il Seems obvious to mo that in spite
OF the greater competition in the
United States business lost could
much easier be rcgained
The negotiable consequences Of the
recognition ny the consuming public
Of our dependence on foreign sources
Of sunply. Will he a ready agreement
to the move already being made by
manufacturers whose output has been
accelerated to meet war time de-
mands. for Il revision Of the customs
tariff.
Frankly I To not think Am erican
exporters nesfi concern themselves
bout the feeling towards American
products. While there are people
who exercise a preference for Brit
ish made goods, IL is mostly for some
special reason. concerned with the
product Itself
TT is safe 10 say that among Aus
tralians by birth there is little con-
Germ as TO which overseas nation sup
plies their requirements, after quail
ties and prices have been judged AS
a matter of fact in every case that
! know OF where an American con-
Germ has entered this market and
treated II with consideration ii dc.
serves, its goods are firmly establish.
ed in public fnvor
Agreeing With you that the war
has created a better understanding
between Britain and America. must
however. quality my agreement that
1t will lead 10 increased trade--at any
rate with Australia and America
We have imported from the United
States very largely and I believe are
ready TO continue. but we are not ex-
porting 70 America to the extent that
would make continuance of our big
i'm nortations likely"