1931-12-12 — Page 3

Page

ASSETS

£13,000,000

BY APPOINTMENT

CLAIMS PAID

£40,000,00

GENERAL

ACCIDENT, FIRE & LIFE ASSURANCE CORPN., LTD.

All Classes of

INSURANCE

WORLD WIDE.

ORGANISATION

AGENTS

JAMES H. BACKHOUSE

LET

1A, CHATER ROAD...

TEL 21733.

RONEO

STEEL

A.M.E

FILING CABINETS SIMPLIFY YOUR

FILING SYSTEM.

Drawers run smoothly and silently on ball bearing suspension slides.

· HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1931.

ENGINEERING AND BUILDING

Machinery Market

in China.

BRITISH FIRMS NEED TO GIVE BETTER SERVICE.

A

از

BIG OPPORTUNITIES THAT MUST

NOT BE MISSED.

STUDENTS £150,000

BUILDING.

L.C.C. SCHOOL SUCCESSES.

Notable successes have been gain- ed by students at the L.C.C. Sebook of Arts and Crafts, which now ad- mits only persons of special apli tude, thus reducing the roll by about 300. Many of the part-time students are employed in the artis tio professions and industries.

Succosses; it is stated in the first annual report since the school's reorganisation, include. the Queen'a

To the casual observer it may not in the nature of a speculation to scholarship, to which Queen Mary bo apparent, but in the minds of bank upon a return to normal ecn-sende a contribution, the Gold- foreign business mon in Shanghai,ditions in the ucks future, and itsmiths Company travelling scholar- Poipibg, Tientsin and other large is equally a risk to expect the old-ship, and twenty-seven out of entres, there is little doubt that time buying of "quality" goods, thirty-three awards were gained in China is yet again on the brink even if prosperity does return. the Goldsmiths Silversmiths'; and of a commercial revolution. It is Surely, with the lesson of the pices Jowellers Art Council demonstra- as yet too early to forecast exactly goods, prevision and other trades tions. What direction this will take, or before them, British machinery Students carried out successfully what proportions it will masume, producers will read the signs arigat number of commissions, includ but this much is certain: the con ere it is too late to apply the reing the design of a building costing. tinuance of the present compararaedy. These lines were once vary £130,000, while among the achieve tive political "peses will assuredly largely the preserves of suppliers ments of teachers who are practis assist the trade of the Republic, of "quality" goods, "yet graduallying artists and craftsmen are the particularly in branches of industry they have fallen into the hands design of a building in Westminster : such as engineering, railway activ-of Japanese and Continental in costing $730,000 and the work of ro- ity and local manufacture. Oraera terests, principally by reason ofstoration of medieval woodwork of for heavy machinery will be forth the sheer inability of the Chinese St. Albans Abbey. cerning in Readily increasing to find the money for the superror volume if political and military interference is. discontinued, but it still remains to be seen which type of manufacture, will finally win the Chinese regard-to wit, the high quality or the low-priced article Not every manufacturer of heavy machinery in Great Britain realizes it it is by no means their fault that they do not-but this is a mu ment of supreme importance in their commercial relationship with Everything depends upon the silver rate and the manner in which the average Chinese purchase renots to the steady decline in the

China

article.

PRODUCTION OF LEAD AT MOUNT ISA, QUEENSLAND.

The machinery trude; fortunately: is differently constituted, naid it has not so readily succumbed to the power exerted by reduced monetary The importance of the Mount Isa capacity. But make no mistake, mine as a producer of lead appears eventually will if steps are not at to be fully established, according once taken to remedy matters. This to information recently received is not as impossible as some business from Australia: The mine is the pra. man seem to think. Admittedly, [perty of Messrs. Mount Isa Mines, British suppliers cannot combal Limited, and is situated in North restricted purchasing power direct-Queensland, about 60 miles west of ly-that must be left to the goguluncurry. It is stated that the sense of the focal diplomat and crushing mills of the plant are militarist-but there is more than dealing with 1,200 tors of ore a one means whereby they may stin day and that this total will short- prevail, upon the Chinese buyer toy be increased to 1,500 tons. The The facts, in short, are these. The maintain interest in high-class melting plant is gradually in- Chinese, as a rule, has now less co

machinery.It is not suggested that rousing its outpat, and the lead spend on imported machinery than to this end an effort he made to impurities. The crude lead is dea

produced is stated to contain few. he had eyen during the gloomy days reduce Home standards of produ-patched to the part of Townsville, of military strife and usurpation. tion. That also is too important distancy of about 560 miles, and On the other hand, however, the an affair for individual action, and, finally refined in the Company's is shipped to London, where it is maintenance of amieable relation, moreover, what Sir Ernest Themp-own refinery at Tilbury Docks. between leaddra has fostered a spirit son told Shanghai business

value of the dollar and tae).

me

11

Social Contact.

of

of confidence in the future which with reference to the piece goods to a large extent offsets the ill effects trade--that Lancashire cannot lower: of reduced purchasing power, and its sandards of organization ang Then there is the question aroused, in addition, a desire to distribution-is probably true ahoaocial contact, which, if correctly interpreted, may well be classed "wait and see." Which will even- of the machinery feld. Besides, under the heading of "Rervice. tually triumph-trust in the the

pre-

slightest depreciation "" Chinese hospitality is proverbial, Bent Administration, followed by an British quality might very well re-

and, though British businees. men appreciation of silver prices and, sult in disaster a great, if not ly to refuse an invitation to at- are not usually so obtuse as actua.

consequence, a growing dis-greater than that now threatening tenda

dianer от celebration, position to purchase "quality"

Oriental ceremonial is liable to of lowered buying rander them ill at ease. Contrast gocds; or distrust of the generals, a power. For, be if remembered, their demeanor on these occasions pessimistic outlook in regard to "A good as "British material" is with that of the German or Ameri-

conventions, many of them imagin

numerous new

BH A

Ori десони

CO., LTD. the future worth of the dollar, and, a Chiness proverb. Industrialist, can, whose lesser ragard for glin

DODWELL & CO., LTD.

wy

SHIPBUILDERS, SHIP REPAIRERS, BOILER MAKERS, FORGE MASTERS,

·OXY-ACETYLENE AND ELECTRIC WELDERS,

MECHANICAL AND

ELECTRICAL

ENGINEERS.

-DRY DOCK-

Length 787 Feet. Length on Blocks 750 Foot

OF HONG KONG, LIMITED. THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY

SALVAGE TUG "TAIKOO" WIRELESS CALL

V.PG.N. 600 METERS.

Depth on Centre of

SUI (B.W.O.S.T.) 84 ft. 6 ins.

-THREE SLIPWAYS.-

Capable of Handling Ships Up to 4,900 Tons Displacement.

Electric Crane at Sea Wall, Gapable of Lifting 100 Tons at 70 Foot Radius,

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.

TEL. Avonesa: "TaxOODOCK, Hong Kong," TELEPHONE: 30211

Call Thao 1:50” Ovma “Ans. PENNANT,”

the

naturally enough, a lower quality, then, would appear to be a clettary, earns them if not quantity, level of purchases stick, unable to turn either way clients.. Social distinctions ure from abroad? That is the problem, to better their position, and concise face" would not he

certainly observed by the Chinese,. and the ultimate decision, is certain fronted with the knowledge that power it is to-day, but silence a substantially to influence the comthey must inevitably suffer if they apt to be construed as aloofness, mercial future of the Republic. For remain paaaive and inactive.

which is scarcely conducive to a cordial commercia! relationship. does it not stand to reason that if

Poor Deliveries Retard Future

Flour-milling Equipment in

the Chinese, during this period of depression, once take to acquiring machinery of short life, but low first cost, they will continue from habit and motives of ocondmy to purchase this type even when the country returns to prosperity and a happier monetary condition 7 This must be avoided at all costs if British manufacturers are to main tain machinery sales to China at Acreditable level. But how?

Lesson of Piece Goods Trade.

was

וין

Sales,

Demand. But there is a way to surmount this barrier to trade, and that may of all kinds would be well ddvised Makers of industrial machinery be summed up in one word-service to follow the example of British For example, purchasers of internal ment, who, by the employment of

suppliers of four milling equip combustion engines in the vicinity progressive methods of service and of Shanghai-and their views would advertising, have effectively curbed probably find an echo in other large discredited the price fetish, and American and German competition." centres-complain that not only is established excellent connections in the discrepancy in price. between all parts of the country. Similar- the British and German articles hos Fielded to go-ahead selling ly, the textile engineering trade as much as 25 per cent, but that methods, but, in regard to, alectrical in the matter f deliveries Con-engineering the British position 13 for from good. This is at first sight There

tinental suppliers are much more unaccountable, inasmuch as British time when 123 aumerous instances Chinese buyara prompt and consistent. With re-enterprise in this direction is ac of industrial equipment requested gard to the first part of the ecm-knowledged throughout the world only British suppliers to quete thers plaint, it is gratifying to note thaiency for transcending that of to have attained a degree of off- prices for such. That was a very several British manufacturers, by many competitors. Yet in China grent compliment--they wanted only redesigning, their models, and out-British goods are often regarded the best, and the best was to be ting out all unnecessary" frills," German origin. This is, of course as inferior to those of U.S.Ä. and had only from Great Britain. But are gradually lowering the price a mistaken belief, but it will, no- only in isolated cases does, this oc- margin, but so far as concerns de-vertheless, periaat while the organi cur now. Why? Because the Chin- liveries much remains to be done.peting interests in Shanghai and zation and representation of "com. esa, for all his liking for a good The Chinese, as is well known, 18 Paiping is permitted to be so far machine, cannot so often afford in a very keen business raan, and any in advance of British effort... in cost of it. It is urgently nettssary thing that savors of undue delay has of late boon neglected by Bri- plain words, the Chinese market for British business men to realize creates in him misgivings which are tish electrical manufacturers, and the gravity of the situation. Truc, scarcely a happy augury for future it will need a strong and sustained it may only be transitory, but that sales.

effort to recover the ground lost to Japan and the U.S.A.-British Export Gazette,

ia, not tho, point. It is too much

(Continued on next Golumn.)

ANNOUNCING !

9th DECEMBER, 1931

OPENING DATE OF

"BRUNSWICK HOUSE"

ARCADE--GLOUCESTER BUILDING

...(Operated by Tax China Puondärapu & Radio, Tav.)

COMPLETE STOCK OF LATEST DANCE HITS

BRUNSWICK AND MELOTONË

Electrically Recorded

RECORDS

MUSIC TO SUIT EVERY TASTE!

MACHINES TO SUIT EVERY POCKET

COME ROUND FOR A DEMONSTRATION

SAVINGS ARE CONSTANT THE YEAR 'ROUND

FOR just a few dollars down, you can place a Gezeral Blectric Refrigerator in your kitchen tomorrow, Savings begin immediately. The economies you effect in preventing food spoilage, utilizing "left-overs" and marketing at quan tity prices, will quickly pay the modest monthly installments. Buy your General Biectric this fall. Lower prices are now coupled with a 3«Year Guarantee on all models,

GENERAL ELECTRIC ALL-STEEL REFRIGERATOR

Domestic, Apartmwot House and Commercial Refrigerators, Blectric Water Confere

On View at

A

1:

The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd. The General Electric Co. (China), Ltd.- ANDERSEN, MEYER & COMPANY, LTD.

BOL AGENTS.

"Worth waitin for"

"

W. & A. Gilbey's Gin

Also Inpints and flasks

GILBEY'S DRY GIN

Cexper

· Distind a Bottled

Clear as Crystal

never a' has

been

Obtainable from all Wine Merchants

Sole Representatives :

KUNG SHEUNG COMPANY China Building

Hong Kong.

Dial 23268