il
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6. 1919,
THE TRADE OF CANTON.quence to us. I have ward. Twenty years ago we were could do very little relatively to not the sailors to man a great
INTERESTING ITEMS FROM CUSTOMS REPORT.
An excellent review of com-baying the welfare of the people at heart can tolerate such a per- mercial and political conditions in the South is given in the latest nicious state of affairs is quite
incomprehensible. volume of trade reports and stat- istics just issued by the Maritime Custoras. The volume treats of the Southern ports, the trade of
which is dealt with in the fullest, detail. The Carton report is of
and the turmoil between North and South. the country has suffered severely through douts and piracies. the latter being rampant in consequence of the chantic state of the Government The report continues, in part:
one
The
MACAO OPIUM SUBSIDY.
A notable feature of the year the absence for the first time in
A PRACTICAL COMPARISON.
From
BRITAIN'S GREAT TRADE OPPORTUNITY.
A CALL FOR GREATER OUTPUT.
1211
that
WORLD STARVING FOR BRITISH GOODS.
MR. MCCURDY M.P., ON
THE NEED FOR PRODUCTION.
The real trouble of the British
proceeded, is not that wages are low, but that prices are high. What is the remedy for high prices? Some people say: "Get back to pre-war conditions, aboli ish D.O.RA. and all your war-- tine controls, and let British trade find its free and accustomed channels."
The average production was £102 per worker; £93 worth per head of the population was all the wealth we were producing in a year. If it had all been equally shared out all round there would
aldecent standard of comfort for
If we are to abolish poverty and
for our workers," we shall want raise the national standard of life
mora food, more houses, more clothes, more household furni ture and utensils, and wealth of every kind.
Until we produce them we shall
the matter.
more
The motive power of the future
this line, whereas shipping is af, steel - Let us take a glance back- stoel and engineering trades they not cover the ocean. She has that is ventured to write some articles told "recisely the same about their productive capacity, and fleet, and her internal indi tries for the American Press, as well Ame tan competition in steel as, comparatively to the world's offer such wages
The only heavy line never likely to get the necessary 48 our ow, in which I have we are now told about American/demand. boldly declared that not only is competition in shipbuilding. We they did auch in was steel rails, sailors. She will have to pay so shipping of little importance to were told that the United States, and that was mainly due to the much for labour and stores not
Mr. McCurdy, Parliamentary the United States, but that the with almost fabulous coal and operations of an international to mention the building of her Americans cannot make ships iron reserves easily mined, with syndicate it was no test of real ships that she will not be able Secretary to the Food Controller, ¡to maintain a great mercantile speaking recently at Histon, pay! And here is my evidence the most modern iron and stasl competitive powers.
WHERE WE SCORE fleet without extremely heavy | Cambridgeshire, said the railway- The U.S. is practically a self-con- plants, the lowest railway rates,
What has happened in the steel subsidies, and if these are pro-men who had recently been on tained, a self-supporting country, the most efficient workmen, and producing nearly all the food and the most pushful business men, trade is likely to be repeated in posed the agricultural interests strike thought they had struck industrial raw materia.s she re- could produce the cheapest and shipping and shipbuilding, and for will soon be up in arms against for higher wages. He (Mr. Mc- taken. They were really only is quires without importation. Not best steel, and that in a very few the same reasons. Not only have them, and those interests count for Curdy) thought they were mis- Of course, if British labour goes gambling for counters, and what needing to import much, she has years the Americans would flood we our coal and native iron sup something in the United States. the history of the port of all no need to export much, and, the world's markets with steel plies side by side, and close by our more than usual interest in view statistics relating to opium. The therefore, no need of much ship goods at prices we could not shipyards and ports, but we can mad in its demands, nothing can the counters would be worth had of the present political situation. rade in the drug being now proping. Moreover, American manu- touch. The late Mr. Andrew fetch the best Scandinavian and save British industry. But if the still to be settled.
Although the year 1918 has bibited, there is no collection to facturers are not only burdened Carnegie loudly proclaimed that Spanish ores and land them right moderate element will assert it- continued the tale of depressed erort. As a natural corollary to with such high productive and not only could the United States alongside our blast furnaces, inthe self we shall beat all compatitors.workman to-day, Mr. McCurdy
the suppression of the trade in transport charges that they can producb the cheapest steel then, heart of our coalfields, at a less years our cost for freightage, in normal trade and shrinking revenus which its predecessors of 1914-17piam, frequent, and in mane not compete with us in outside but that within ten
cases very ingenious methods are markets in the heavy trades in best British iron reserves would timer, than our American çem- normal times, but they have such have vanished, and we should be petitors can carry their own ors first started after the record year adopted by opina runners to of 1913 (the Commissioner. Mr smuggle in the dag in small a rich, big and well protected industrially bankrupt, so far as from mines to smelters. F. A. Carl, writes) the year now quantities. The supply comes home market that they can be iron, steel and engineering were Lake Superior iron mines to under review has closed on a mainly from the Macao farmer, exceedingly prosperous without concerned. His friend, the late Pittsburg furnaces is 1,000-miles
Sir Auckland Geddes, President more hopeful note and with betwho seems to be given a tree hand bothering about export trade. T. Stead, an Englishman who involving two hauls by rail
That suggestion always raised ter prospects of improvement
to carry on the trade. natwith-That they are bothering about should have known better, widely and one by ship, with the neces- than any of its our sombre Prstanding that Portugal was export trade, and shipping. I'am advertised those views, and went sary handlings, and transport is of the Board of Trade, made an decessors."
from Apart
signatory of the Haque Opium well aware; but they are docmed so far as to write a special suspended by ice during several important speech on British in- a cheer, but let us see what it have pamphlet to tell us that our only months in the year, necessitating dustry and its outlook at a means. Would pre-war conditions
At the disappointment. We
Connaught be any good to us-to-day ? "adverse effects of the great war
Convention of 1912. The opium to
Thea, Rooms recently when he was the Before the war fewer than half farmer pays a big antual subsidy nothing to fear from American hope of salvation lay in becoming stocking, and additional hard-luncheon
the iron and steel guest of the Aldwych Club. the men in the country were our best titled gentleman with an uncom-when
out their Every nation, without excep-making things at all. There was to the Macaotlovernment for this i competition if only we will put an American colony! A certain ling of the bulky stuff.
was one housekeeper to every six mongoly, but that fact, the Com¡ forth anything like
Parliament, who writes number finished" products, these, if for tion, said Sir Auckland, missioner observes, is no justific efforts. We can beat the United mon name, an ex-member of works have turned tion for allowing the dumping of States with comparative ease.
short of producing the commodities which large quantities of opium on the She is pre-eminently an internal less articles for the British Press, export or shipbuilding purposes. short of something that we could families, less than 6,000,000 men neighbouring districts of China. trading country. Britain is pre-and has lately joined the Labour must be carried another 400 or supply. Europe was
external trading Party, backed up the idea that 500 miles to seaboard. And goods that we could manufacture, the people wanted for export as CHINESE PERSEVERANCE.
Incidentally, the report men eminently an
in a few years our steel-making whereas the cost of hauling steel and here was the opportunity for well as for themselves. That trade, despite all these tions that the cult ofthe cigarette country.
resources would be exhausted, and from Pittsburg to New York or our traders. He found that there that British adverse conditions,hould have is ever in the ascendent amongst
We are dependent upon abnor-that we could not hope to stand other coast points was only abour was great fear
8. a tou fifteen or twenty years traders were likely to be serious American maintained as high a level as it the Chinese fall classes, both
competion were just as confdently ago, the charge now exceeds 20s, ly hit by Germany, by Japan, has, speaks volumes for the in- men and women, and importations mal imports of food and certain against
and by America. nate vitality of Chinese commer-of 1st quality cigarettes have risen industrial raw materials. and We
Again, the United States has to From careful investigation he - cial life. Two foods visited the from 17.720 to 26.923 mille and therefore we are dependent upon assured then that we should be and will go higher very shortly.
district in the coure of the year, those of end quality from 358.142 something like corresponding ex-beaten, clean out of the steel
in May and the other into 395.514 mille. Cigars similarly Pors of coal and manufactures trade by the Americans, as we battle with a labour shortage. i had made he could assure them not have been enough to provide
and the shipping necessary for are now assured we shall be beaten Before the war about a million that Germany could not, certain- August. Many dykes were des show an increase.
the conduct of these abnormal by the Americans in shipping, immigrants landed in the Unitedly for the present, and, perhaps, our people.
States annually. For five years not for years, hope to rank among MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.
Well. I challenged that view. troyed, and crops of all kinds were reined. Several thousands
Judging by projected improve jimport and export trades. We of people were rendes homelessments in and around the city of must put cur energies into these made told to contradict Messrs.that traffic has been suspended, the great manufacturing nations Germany was lacking in raw and destitute, particularly in the Canton the national spirit of external trades or perish. The Carnegie, Stead and Co., un-and there is no immediate pros of the world.
I was only a common pect of renewal. This, coupled
with the huge prosperity of materials. and her workmen, but I Wrote East River districts. Numerous conservatism would appear to be Americans can very comfortably limited. towns and villages were submerg, weakening and is being supersed-rely upon their internal trades, working man ed for neatly, two months, anded by a desire for reform and im- Through their internal trades the rigorously denying that we were American agriculture, is starving hopeless, dispirited, and can maintain high anything like played out, and and as time goes on will further settled, were not working.
A few weeks ago British toy great distress, prevailed.
provement on modern lines. The Americans
that the United States could beat starve-the steel mills and ship-; Can political differences between the demolition of the old city wall is living standards. They North and South were reflected in
case in point, and the site never undertake any very large us. Morning, evening, weekly yards of labour. It is with ex- manufacturers came to him withnot have them. We cannot get stoppage of work leaves us with the trade conditions, which were hitherto occupied by this ancient share of the world's external and monthly our journals were treme difficulty to-day that Ameria woeful tale of possible German characterised by a feeling of unstructure will be utilized for the trades without reducing their filled with reports and articles can iron and steel plants can be competition. The total value of them by going on strike. Every Acomsruction of a fine, broad living standards, and this they about the fabulous resources of operated at about 65 to 70 per German toys that had come into less wealth to divide than we had and insecurity. certainty greatly restricted tonnage sura y mano, along which it is proposed are not likely to do. The United the United States and the impend cent. of reputed capacity. More this country since the armistice before. That is the plain sense of
States has to compete with curing ruin of the United Kingdom: over, American labour is inclined was laughter-and ewing to the demands of European to lay tramway lines,
selves and various European and I was almost alone in standing to slack down, and if Prohibition was imported by the Board of TRADE STATISTICS. belligerents, was further reduced hy the decision of the China Mer-
With regard to the statistics of Asiatic nations or keep out of for up for the old country. What continues the hot workers-forge Trade-(more laughter)-in order would be electricity, and experts business. and both happened. In the last fifteen and furnance men-vill slack to show British toy manufac-advised us that the country, was My turers what Germany could not losing £100,000,000 a year through chants Steam Navigation Con- the year, the gross value of the eign
American capital and labour years before the war little Great down a great deal more.
failure to take advant ge of exported pany to withdraw their vesseltrade of Canton was Hk. 7ls.
to foreign latest accounts of United States do. (Renewed laughter.) more profitable em-Britain
The fear of German competition electrical progress. We wanted from the Canton rut owing to 105,500,000, and atter deducting can find
in the internal markets very nearly a sovereign's steel trade conditions state that the action of the local Military re-exports Hk. Th. 2.300.000 ployment Government in commandeering the net valne monted to Hk, than the external trades. There worth of steel goods for every it is taking 340 men to do the was a shadow. Let them not be cheap power laid on to every town and village, and a proper transport However, learing
That Japan might be a serious service for all thesparsely-colonis revenue may be temporary ups and downs dollar's worth exported by the work which270 did before the war. afraid ofe shadow. (Hear, hear.) . one of that company's vessels T. 103.200.000.
10 CETTY IFCops to Swatow. colection for the year. amount--temporary shocks for ourselves vast United States. This is worth
on the score of United States mentioning because we are likely details, it may be laid down, competitor with us in the nations ed parts of Great Britain.
In France, 1,000,000 acres given While this result has eening to Ht. Tis, 2,280,940, shows a brought -abent
part decrease of Hk. Tis. 51.381 as competition-but the broad fact to see exactly the same in con- broadly and generally, that just of the world seered plausible by the universal stagnation of compared with that of the pre-renains that she is not cut out in nection with shipping as we have as the 'nited States is designed enough: buz wages in Japan, over to market gardening, were trade from which the world in ceding year. The absence of be a great shipping and foreign seen in the case of steel, so far as by Nature to be a great food-pro- which used to be in pennies producing before the war an general has suffered during the pun accounts for nearly a third trading country, whereas Britair outside trade is concerned. The ducting country a great internal day for skilled werkers, were now average yield of £33 per acre.
go-some of them are still pendent upon external trades such food, which used to be 66. per did we could do if we tried. past four years, it has been more of the decrease as compared with is especially designed by Nature scaremongers of twenty years trading country very little de- 6s. per day, while rice, the staple what the Belgians and the French directly induced by decreased the previous year. Ten years for outside commerce.
Certainly the possibilities of writing rubbish wholesale about as shipping and shipbuilding end bushel, was now 5s. per bushel. Apart from the cost of living purchasing power of the natives ago opium revenue receipts ac- owing to the disastrous foods, the counted for almost a million feels, American competition in certain industrial questions-forgot, or the exportation of inanufactured
our lines ought not to he underrated. never knew, that whilst in the goods Britain is cut out to be the Japanese workers were by no
commercial of crop failures, and the abnormally for nearly one-third
Another great "bugbear with high cost of iving and political total revenue. Coast trade duties It is necessary to improve our United States the iron ore was a great external
our manufacturers was the fear and piratical disturbances. and tonnage dues account for the methods and keep up with our deposited a thousand miles from ecuntry. Authing in beef Brittin means as skilled as ours,
But the constant ex- 400 to 500 miles distant from is these lines except British duck- A MILITARY PESTILENCE. remainder of the decrease. while rivals.
the coal, whilst the steel works, es. At present there is much of American competition. When On April 17 a brigade of Nor-exports provide an increased re- aggeration of our
abilities, coupled on account of the coal, were from slack working and keen agitation he had disposed of the danger thern troops captured Namyung-venue of nearly Hk. Tls. 53,000, cources and
equally consistent seaboard, and whilst wages, costs in this country; but our people from Germany and Japan there were still people who shivered an important town to the northmostly contributed by wolframore, with the
is and general prices were abnorm- will settle down eventually, and
before the danger from America of Canton. The victorious seldi- The net value of the foreign im-depreciation of our
al in the States, here in Britain then we shall forge ahead in
America was not well placed ery then indulged in rioting and port trade was Hk. Tls. 27,254,- deplorable. Shipping provides a
The figures recently given re for world trade; besides, America pleats and and looting, in the course of $72: & decrease of roughly Hk. striking example of this kind of we had are and coal supplies, trade and industry. which a huge fire was started Tis. 31,000 as compared with thing. We are told that American manufacturing
side by side, and in Britain and the States have which destroyed nearly a quarter the figures for 1917. Opium bay- Fards have attained a much shipping ports, all practical-garding shipbuilding yard outputs had troubles of her own, and the
behind traders so far as foreign of the whole city. It is stateding ceased to figure in our re- bigger launching tonnage than y
He could assure them that exchanges were concerned. that during the fire and looting turns, whereas in 1917 it account British yards since the United our costs and prices were natural been misleading, and very unfair exchange there was hindering
America could not drive British His complaint against traders several hundreds of innocented for over H. Tls. 335,000 of States entered the war, that she and competitive. They forgot, or to our people. For two or three! inhabitants-men, women, chil-the value, the net result shows an is building ships as good and did not know, that we had a big years. whilst the Americans have! dren were massacred by the increase of Hk. Tis. 281,000 in about as cheap as we are; that-- stake in external trade, whereas been able to concentrate pretty trade out of the markets of the was that those who formerly had
the Americans had little more much on purely new merchant
our minds as a nation to work were content with developing Northern troops. This is cot by the corresponding value of other thanks to their efforts in the war ton destruction of property and 1917. For cotton goods the total campaign, for which, of course, heavy manufactures. The Ameri- in this respect, the bulk of our together. to serve the greater home trade, and were now ex- any means the only case of war articles of trade as compared with against the German submarine than an idle interest is exports of launchings, and show big results world if we would only make up been engaged in foreign trade
(Hear, hear.)
could never be as important as lives by the troops on both sides. value amounted to Hk. Tls. we are profoundly grateful-our cans, following upon the boastings plants and workers have been
All parts of the world were the overseas market.. They made their struction, and on abnormal re- The Southern soldiers, one might 6,832,000, as against Hk. Tls. United States friends will soon of twenty years ago, built huge engaged on special naval con- interests of our export trade. ploiting the home market, which Sir Auckland pleaded with such presume, would have some con 7,240.000 in the previous year, a Possess about 25.000.000 tons of new works.
ocean shipping, and that our suproductive capacity many mil-pairs, both mercantile and naval,
country in the world manufacturers to return to export sideration for the local inhabit- decrease of Hk. Tls. 388,000. ants, but they were just as keen The value of Chinese goods ex- premacy in the twin trades of lions of tens above their home for our Allies as well as ourselves, clacouring for goods, and there
end coastwise shipping and shipbuilding is be- consumptive requirements. They and this work has not been in- when the opportunity preported abroad
Now all this made their works capacity more cluded in the figures that have better situated to take advantage trade. The best markets abroad
it. had presented to
What was affecting home in- sented itself
and amounted to Hk. Tls. 38,020,793, ing rapidly lost.
dustry was not the disturbance of "run riot" as the Northern and of re-exports Hk. Tls. 1,004,- may seem very impressive, on than equal to the combined cap-been hashed up by ignorant of the great opportunity that the were being ignored.
There were difficulties in the death, but the disturbance of a soldiers. Between the two. 518, making a total of Hk. Tls. the face of it; but what are the acities of the British and German writers. We could build ships at nation
works. But after all their tremend-less cost than the Americans be- (Hear, hear.) the lot of the unfortunate in- 59,025,311, as compared with Hk. hard facts?
Ocean shipping is based upon ous expenditure and ambitious fore the war, and although the ' Labitants in the fighting areas T 56,317,690 during the pre-
We are, efforts, they discovered that they demands of our workmen have path, of course, but if we pulled new life that was flowing in the
together during the war those
The great mass of workers were was extremely hard, and almost viousyear. Tradecoastwise shows imports and exports. rivals the lot of those who an increase of Hk. Tls. 2.265,342, and must always remain, the could not produce, ship and sell lessened our advantage in this together as the nation had pulled veins of the workers.
greatest importing and exporting heavy steel goods abroad at com- respect, we have not yet lost our difficulties would be overcome. true at heart but were striving,
(Hear, hear.)
and rightly, for a higher standard witnessed the disgracful perform-
nation. With limited agricultur-petitive prices. We and the Ger-advantage altogether. Only about
The recent strike had taught of life, but, in order to get the ançes that took place in Belgium
al resources, relatively to mans, between us, divided nearly two years ago to less an authority at the beginning of the German
and with 21 population.
nine-tenths of the world's export than Mr. Powell, president of the
steel Fore River Shipbuilding Corpora- us one lesson that the com- better life there was the need for invasion. The Chinese soldier,
people which prefere mining and trade, whilst mammoth
Manufacturers and makers as now recruited from the lowest'
manufacturing and engineering plants-huge and modern works tion, was able to present figures munity was "sound, adaptable, greater production. serious classes, constitutes
to "food growing a people that representing hundreds of millions to the American Trade Con- and full of energy and determins-
still qualities that would win in the methode of 1914 to meet the danger to the people and to law
were wages prefers the city to the village, and of capital-stood idle in the vention showing that American tion. (Hear, hear.) Those were the must, not slide back into the and order. There is nothing the
United States for months on end. shipyard
The nation would conquer if it There were responsibilities that civilian hates and distrusts more Mr. E. T. Good recently wrote the factory to the farm-we must
A huge On the eve of the war Germany 50 per cent. higher than British struggle for the world's markets.needs of 1919-20. than a "soldier," and this hatred as follows to the Journal of Com- export and import on
scale. We must find means of was exporting iron and steel at wages whilst the net culpet per
He could assure them that the and went boldly forward. It was and distrust will continue until merce- the military element is taught|| The possibilities of American regaining and retaining the the rate of 7,000,000 tons a year, man was actually, 14 per cent, must rest on the Government. took its courage in both hands the necessary lesson that it is its competition in the steel, engineer- supreme position in international and Britain was exporting at the less. Again, about one year ago, Government was doing all it not only the workers who might
We must have the most rate of 5,000,000 tons, against the Mr. Farr, of the American Ship. duty to protect and not to oppressing, shipping and shipbuilding, trade. the people.
trades are provoking lively con- ships or cease to exist. It is not States' 2,000,000 tons. The Gar- building Company, was able to could to assist traders by placing be limiting production; many at all necessary for the Americans man export trade, it is true, was testify that the daily wages for at their disposal all the informa- manufacturers were also guilty of
up prices. THE GAMBLING MULTITUDE. troversy just now, and as con-
Let the business community That was treachery. (Hear, The gambling monopoly siderable misconception exists in to make any such efforts, and mainly due to subsidies; but ours skilled labour in United States tion available regarding oversese limiting output in order to keep flourished throughout the year many minds regarding the com- they will find in the future, as in was fair competitive and profit- yards averaged 12s. 6d. per day trade. and levied a heavy toll on the parative resources of the United the past, that it will pay them yable business, which proves we more, and for unskilled labour
Again, if the United export trades instead of throwing fallacy fermenting in men's minds at the present moment that bricks and mud. wealth of Canton and the neigh States and the United Kingdom very much better to stick to their could produce and export more 5s. 10d. more, than in British work together to re-establish our hear.) There was a dreadful bouring districts. The number in these lines it may not be amiss internal industries and leave us cheaply than the
On the other hand, what were spite of what States builds a merchant fleet to. of establishments greatly in- to set out a few facts and practi-supreme in shipping. The cur- in 1914, in
gambling cal considerations.
rent boom in American shipbuild-was said between 1899 and about to challenge British supremacy, and these creased
1905. The Americans built up a how will she operate such a fleet? traders themselves doing? Were Beginning with shipping, the ing will pass. hells are seen at every available spot throughout all the city. first point that should be noted is THE FUNDAMENTAL ARGUMENT big home trade, of course; but In her internal trades she can they doing all they could to they were completely outclassed have protection from outside com- develop export trade 2 Some The harm done to the inhabitants that this particular trade is of
One cardinal point that should in exports. In motor cars and petition; but shipping is a truly were and some were rot, is immeasurable both from the very little importance to the monetary and moral points of United States, though our friends be noted is that the very founda typewriters they did well in international competitive busi There were difficulties of or view, and how any government are making tremendous efforts in tion of modern shipbuilding is foreign markets, but in the heavy ness. American protection can change, but the Government was
נזן
10 loo:
a
The
BRITISH INDUSTRY.
THE APPLICATION OF IRREVOCABLE FACTS.
rivals' те-
OF STEEL.
OWN.
Americans yards.
our these
i
!
her exports.
was no
The whole world was starved for the goods we ought to be making to-day. The war had
28
emptied the larders and the ware- houses of the world, and they
openings for British commerce were waiting to be filled. The
were rever 50 great they were 10-day. We needed only the wisdom and courage to see our opportunity, to scrap obsolete methods, to over- haul our industrial system.
We
all they wanted was higher wages.
We must conquer such fallacies as those, and if we worked to conquer he could assure them that, dark as was the outlook, our export trade was bright with light of hope.
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