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TEXTILE MACHINERY.
166. There are in China already about 120 cotton mills equipped with modern machinery, chiefly of British manufacture. Owing to war difficulties Japan and the United States obtained a larger proportion of the work for a while, but Great Britain is reassert- ing her dominant position and in 1929 accounted for 63 per cent. of the imports. It is estimated that a further 75,000 spindles were delivered in 1930. Continued activity in mill extensions is anticipated following the new tariff. It is stated that a certain carelessness has recently characterised replacement parts supplied by our makers. The greatest care in this sort of business is essen- tial as we must take every care of our high prestige.
In many cases, as in Japan, the complete process from spinning to finishing is carried out in one establishment but the example of our Calico Printers' Association, who have erected a first-class finishing works at Shanghai on British lines, is likely to be imitated elsewhere. There are already four finishing works of smaller size. Much of the bulky work for this section of the trade is likely to be of local manufacture, but there will remain good openings for import.
The closely allied knitting and sewing machine business, is at present largely in American hands, but in small knitting machines for cottage industry, locally made machines are gaining ground. Close study of exact requirements of this trade should result in Great Britain securing a better share, but given the right article energetic demonstration and selling will be needed to get it accepted by conservative users.
ENGINEERING WORKS.
167. From large dockyards and arsenals down to small Chinese workshops there is considerable activity in engineering industry. The dockyards are steady buyers of machinery and stores of which Great Britain supplies a good proportion. At Hongkong in addi- tion to the Government Yard, there are two large private yards with very complete equipments for ship building and ship repairs. They are also able to carry out large constructional work. The Whampoa Dockyard at Kowloon is a very fine yard, with well arranged and substanially built premises, and completely equipped workshops, docks and slipways. Its foundries turn out excellent castings, both for its own use and for others; its forges and machine shops are able to undertake high quality work. Similar condi- tions prevail at the Taikoo Dock of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire at Hongkong and at the four large dockyards of Shanghai, the Shanghai Dock & Engineering Company, the New Engineering & Shipbuilding Works (which are British), the Kiangnang Dock & Engineering Works (which belong to the Chinese Government, but has a British Manager), and the Société Franco-Chinoise
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With their ex-
(which is partly French-owned partly Chinese). cellent management, good equipment and cheap labour, these yards are able to take on important work very competitively.
168. The rates of wages vary from place to place. As an in- stance, may be given the rate at Kiangnang where coolies get fifty cents a day, skilled men one dollar and fifty cents a day and foremen one hundred and fifty dollars a month.* Owing to the expert nature of their work and their knowledge of the value of machinery, these yards are among Britain's best customers. But we must support them by an energetic sales policy of our own.
China has some 20 arsenals, some of which are very fully equipped, and all of which are from time to time, buyers of machinery and materials. The two arsenals at Mukden have very complete workshops. The large arsenal has a big power plant of British make, but the bulk of its equipment is Danish. The small arsenal has numerous tools of rather a miscellaneous char- acter, mostly second hand. Both of them are considering seriously the problem of taking on industrial work. The large arsenal has had several Czech engineers engaged for a considerable time to report on the possibility of doing this.
It is suggested that assembly and part-construction of railway rolling stock would be a suitable activity. The small arsenal has already started in this direction by using its foundry for turning out domestic radiators, and its other departments are busy getting ready to make a special type of motor lorry suited to Manchurian requirements.
169. Another big section of engineering activity is to be found in the railway workshops. These vary in importance according to the activity of the lines they serve, but in the bulk form a very large market for engineering plant and materials.
For
South Manchurian Railway workshops at Dairen are exception- ally well equipped. Many of the older tools are British, but the new ones are chiefly American or Japanese, with only a few special- ties of British make. The equipment is so complete that in addition to repairs they can make vehicles and even locomotives. general repair work they can tackle 30 locomotives, 40 passenger vehicles and 100 wagons at a time. They employ about 3,000 men, half of whom are Chinese. The educational, housing, and welfare arrangements are very ample and the whole place, including all offices and factory buildings, is a model one.
The Chinese Eastern Railway at Mukden also have an excellent lay out designed for rapid overhaul of their considerable rolling stock. Unfortunately they have very little British machinery here owing, so their chief engineer stated, to our very poor propaganda compared to the United States educational advertising.
*
See note to paragraph 189.
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