CO129-581-16 British propaganda in Hong Kong 18-4-1939 - 29-10-1939 — Page 71

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Signs of Trade Expansion.

Evidence of the continued improvement in British trade con-

ditions is provided by the returns of the lanchester Ship Canal for

June and for the first six months of this year. In June, 1939,

this important inland waterway's receipts were £135,000, compared

with £105,000 in June, 1938, or an increase of nearly thirty per

cent; while during the first half-year the total receipts of the

enterprise amounted to £689,000, this sum being £30,500 more than

in the corresponding period of 1938. The traffic handled by the

Canal is varied in character, but depends for the most part on

trade in the Lancashire district. There is therefore little doubt

that the increased receipts of the Canal enterprise are largely due

to the improved conditions in the British cotton industry.

The growth of economic activity throughout the country is also

instanced in the steady rise in the production of motor cars.

According to the latest figures, the output of private cars in lay

this year exceeded that of lay last year by approximately 6,000,

while the production of commercial vehicles rose by 2,500 in the

same month. Sales also rose, and in May this year 8,000 more

vehicles, private and commercial, were sold than in the same month

last year,

As regards foreign markets, the total number of private

cars exported from Great Britain this year in June, was 2,500

higher than in June, 1938, and there was also an increase in the

number of commercial vehicles exported. The popularity of British

cars abroad is instanced by the experience of the makers of a well-

known make of British motor car. Since September, 1938, this firm

has increased its export sales by nearly 42 per cent.