1946-11-06 — Page 3

BRITAIN'S TRADE

Appreciable Progress Of Export Plan

RECENT STATISTICS

(Our Own Correspondent)

It in now over a year since tho War ended and the British Govern- ment in confronted with the most dificult task of mwitch-over from war production to peace production in such a way as (1) to make pos- sible a rapid rise in export produc- tion figures and (2) prevent a re~

unemploy currence of the serious ment which existed after World War I in certain industries (most notably, coal and shipbuilding).

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1946.

Amateurs

How The

Whitehall Are Things Up

By BERNARD HARRIS

BRITAIN'S most urgent need in industry to-day

Of Messing

..

price of copper by £10 a ton and, less than three months later put on another 12.

Lend on the same dates went up by £0 and £10, zine by £8 und £10.

SCOTTISH NEWSLETTER

(By Alastair Grant)

In all the elaborate and ex- to develop the tensive. plans tourist industry in the High- lands it is plain that insufficient

Tin cans are costing more because the Government, deelded the other day to put up the price of tin by emphasis is laid on the necca- L80 10. a ton-a single jump of sity to improve the ferry ser-

vices. At present these 27 per cent.

quite inadequate..

4

possible to import more. Therefore, be quite frank-the well-inten. springs largely from their antipathy Even worse in the fact that it cannot of high

To-day the volume of imports Is only about two thirds of what-it was pre-war. Her post-war finan- cial position in auch that Is Im-

it slie hna les chalce of foodstuffs, tioned gentlemen of Whitehall difficulties with raw materials and are making a mess of it. few or no imported manufactured Business men in Liverpool and gooda.

Pre-war, Britain inel about half Manchester are so angry about the of the raw materials the cost of her imports by visible poor quality exports of merchandise. The other being supplied to them by the Govern

ment

that they have asked the half was met by invisible

exports

National Union of Manufacturers to (shipping, banking, insurance, etc.).

Poor materials, they came from British countries

About mean a shoddy finished article, which 50% from Foreign countries. half of her exports went to British will do Britain no good at all in over- countries and half to Foreign coun-

seas markets. Nor does Britain want shoddy goods in the shops at home. trich.

services.

are

A case in point is Kessock Ferry at Inverness linking the Highland

Inhabitants Capital with the popular Black Isle district. holidaymakers are put to great in-

well

Wonderland Idea is the great old type of British merchant who

At some places where no ferry used to scour the world in search of the raw

These enormous movements, un-services exist at all motorists and known in normal markets, are the others are compelled to travel by materials to keep Britain's factories busy. Since

circuitous routes, althoug Whitehall idea of price stability. It is long. 1939 he has been almost out of business.

they can see their destination across But the price jumps are only one of a narrow stretch of water. Where The Government's determination to on Alice in Wonderland conception.

commodilles His job has been taken over }

trading in

the impediments to British industry, ferries do exist morists complain charges d infrequent And let us continue

wants or the by civil servants.

to the merchant.

obtain the supplies They say he is the bad man who

Cotton mills designed to use a cer- encourages "gambling in the people's special grades it needs, food." And because of his pecula-tain type of American cotton have tion prices are much too unstable-been folsted off by the Cotton Con-

trol with

Peruvian or Indian up one day, down the next

But can the civil servants really variety which does not precisely meet

experts who have their needs.. improve on the

Trades using coconut fibre have spent their business lives studying and

in a small group of commodi-been messed up because the civil ser trading Lies?

vants lacked the merchants' expert all against them knowledge

flat fibre grown on a The record is

has different Philippines coconut Consider linseed oil

qualities from the fibre which comes off a coconut prown in Ceylon. Flood Of Grapes

virtue of the It was the maligned merchant that he ensured Britain's factories always having the right stuff at the right time.

So you can be pretty certain that, it the Government had let the metal example, get back to traders, for business mon after VJ-Day. Britain's industries would not now be plagued by a shortage of copper, lead, and tin.

Approximately 40% of her import protest to the Board out

and

Britain's pre-war balance of pay- ments was made up as follows:

Average of 1036-0 (£000,000'>

Value of Retained Imports-£660

The World's Pick Before the war Britain had the commodity highly-organised inost markets in the world.

These markets were great In-

Until a few weeks ago the Govern ment controlled the price at £65 a ton, against an average of £20 before the war. But British paint manufac turers, who are the biggest consumers, found they could not get nearly enough at that price.

They mnde inquiries and found that the Argentine was agreeable to sell

(1) Imports of food, drink and turnce in fostering the prosperity of amount they wanted at £75.

tobacco in 1938 comprised British industry. For they nude cer- tain that her manufacturers had t nearly 50% of the tatai: (i) Haw materials and

ru-their doorstep the pick of the world's

raw materials.

eles mainly unmanufactured, 17%

Manufactured articles 25%. (HD) M Value of Exports- £478

When the war came the Govern- ment closed the markets.

The Government bought all Bri

(i) Exports of food, drink and tain's wheat meal. oils and fats, tea,

tobacco in D38 were

of the total;

125

coffee, cocan, fruit, cotton, wool, rub- 12-1.

metals, and many other cummo- (1) Rase materials and nrti-dities. And Government departments eles moinly unmanufactured, arranged their distribution to factor-

irs and shops.

over has bern more than a year, freedom of dealings has been restored only in wool and. 203. to a lesser degree, in coffee and

37.shellte.

(ii) Manufactured articlm, 70%.

Net income from Shipping ... 195.

Investments Contimissions, etc.

Total

Adverse Balance ..

£823.

13.

Loss Of Shipplug During the War, half of Britain's shipping tonnage was lost through chemy netlon; a large proportion of her overseas investments was sold; It was necessary for her dellbernte ly to cut down her export trade (and this was daue voluntarily to the ex- tent of under one third of its volume in the latter half of the Wari; and, in addition, she incurred vast ex- ternal indebtedness in the, sterling area.

Though the war

YUGO-SLAV SOLDIERS

ARRESTED

Britain's skillful bulk buyers would have none of it. Their price was £65 and that was that.

Then the Russians stepped in and bought a large part of the Argentine British paint manufacturers, stocks. desperate for supplies, went to White- hall.

"Do you realise," they asked, "that the entire housing programme will be wrecked unless we get a lot more linseed oil?"

That bright, bellon. Cables were sent in Buenos Aires. Britain bought the lingerd of the Russians had left. And the price we paid? EXACTLY

£130 A TON!

In April Britain's new amateur Jumped the bulk buyers suddenly

RICE SITUATION IN MALAYA

QUESTIONED

|

much-

And the same is true of food and other commodities.

The British people lately had an example of what a little free enter prise can do in the flood of grapes and penches which have poured into our shops and on to the costers barrows for sale al reasonable prices.

If the Government would drop their prejudices and make use ange more of the knowledge and skill of the British merchant there would soon be more examples like that,

ANGLO-U.S. ZONES MERGER TALKS

mites

the

here

poor 15 and the alternative

the na to extra rond journey of nearly thirty

Apprehensive miles. effect of this on the holiday traffic, Inverness Chamber of Commerce are pressing for the erection of a road bridge between Inverness and the Black Isle on the ground that this would do away with the present un- satisfactory ferry service and would provide a line of communication of great value between a flourishing towns of Inverness-shire. It would agricultural area and the market also make for the development of the immediate foreshore at Kensock. which could be transformed into it desirable holiday resort, with

the advantage of an airport and

The railway centre at Inverness, Chamber of Commerce is taking the with Inverness Town Council. matter up

Overhaul of Roads

the The Tourist Committee of

on Industry 71349 Scottish Council

of pressing for a complete overbaul the mads, ferries and sea transport in the Western Highlands islands. They point out that a road

up. from Hannoch station jolning with the Glencoe road somewhere in the vicinity of Kingshouse, would open up some of the most beautiful

in Scotland and n

must Scenery attractive area would be available to tourists by the provision of a good motoring road through Benderloch, from Connel Ferry to Dallachulish. recognised, of course,

It

and

that

the roads over which the tourist desires 10 desires to travel are frequently Lamden, Nov. 5-Viscount Elibank i Landon, Nov. 5 (UP-The Foreign situated in sparsoly populated areas (Cons.) referred in the House of Cilice mounced in-day that are where the cost of the necessary im-

to the Lords to-day

toprovements would be prohibitive it experts would go very grave of British

The cost of such im- shortage of rice la Malaya. Decking Washington for discussions opening placed on the shoulders of the local

Gorizia, Nov. 5 (UP).-Thirteen Yugo-Slay soldiers and one Yuga- by the arrested Slay offer were United States military police on Sunday evening in an aren off limits to members of the Yugo-Siny detach-rice, estimated at met stationed in the Allied zone of million tons, in the adjacent country the merging of the British and borne partly or even wholly by the

of Siam which could be purchased! American zones of Germany, Venczin Glulin.

and exported, Lord Elibank asked!

were

ing equilibrium in the balance of found by military police radio

figures, it was esti-

pre-war

in

of

that there was a large surplus pf on November 12 on certain financial community.

one and half and economic questions relative to pravements, therefore, should be

Governmeni.

The

"

and

The 14 were stopped while riding what the Government were doing to in a truck. They are attached to the see that Mataya was provided ime

milftory hospital adiately from this surplus rice. The resultant losses could only be Yugo-Stav

Gorizia and have Ailled resident increased paid for by

exports. Therefore, with the object of restor-monthly passes for Gorizia. Mon-

Trieste. They flacone and import-export mated at the beginning of this year patrol in the village of Cutsna. by the British Government that she Ironza Valley, unut 25 miles out munt increase her visible exports bounds, (l.e.. exports of produce and manu- factures) to 175% of the

to the MP headquarters in Gorizia level. This would be necessary to where they

were detained a few i enable her to maintain the same minutes

before being sent back to volume of imports as she had before hospital. the War. In actual fact, of course, she would want more imports and not less if she were to be able to maintain her standards because more raw materials would need to be im- ported to enable her to export 75% more manufactured goods.

this target of (volus

above the 1938 export ngures, British exporters were asked by the Government to make as vigor aus a drive as they made in war-production, in the hope that

Committer belleve, The announcement said the British

Li-Gen public opinion is with them, that tourist delegation would Include

keeps the à lactor which Brian

Military Robertson, deputy Governor of the British Occupation from exploring the North of Scot- Viscount Hall, the First Lord of the Zone, and representatives of the land is the very high cost of the Office control office for ferries and the infrequency of the

These

ferries Admiralty, replying for the Govern Foreign

the Services. and Austria and ment,

said: "The Malayan Union and Germany

essential part of the highway system and in the view of the Committee Singapore colony have been importing Treasury.

I added that the United States they should be operated by the rice from the exportable surplus of Slam to which Lurd Elibank referred. Exports from Siam and imports into would be represented by the Depart Ministry-of-Transport

and War with, the are made in accordance with ments of State

The Yugo-Slavs went under escorts by the international Emer assistance on particular Issues from

Rency Food Council. Rice from Siam, other governmental agencies,

end of 1948.

73%

their

PROMOTING U.S. TRADE IN CHINA

New York, Nov. 4.-The establish. ment of the first American Trade Asiaociation, devoted to promoting has been United States trade throughout the

countries, Far Eastern this figure might be attained by the effected by the decision of the China- The fact that the 176% level hoa America Council of Commerce and already heen reached and was oven Industry to expand its scope of the activity to the Asiatic areas as well, surpasser in July is proof of success of the Government's planning according to an announcement made President, by the Cuuncil's

Henceforth, Mr. Foye stated, the China-America Council of Commerce and Industry will be changed to the Far East American Council of Com- merce and Industry. He added that

and of the efficiency of private enter-r. Arthur Foye prise.

Drive Makes Good Progress A review of the 1940 export figures must give British Interests a con- siderable amount of satisfaction.

is required in many countries and

needs in many areas are urgent. Re-

cent exporta from Slam, however, i NZ GIVES PRIORITY. TO have fallen short of the estimates on

to Malaya which allocations

other countries were made.--Houter.

U.S. ATOMIC

and

BRITISH IMPORTERS

Invasion Barges

are

an

to The Committeo are inclined Javour

invasion a proposal that barges be used for ferrying moto cars, goods and passengers across the various waterways. Tours of the the Western Isles are one of

DH greatest attractions which can offered to visitors but this asset is almost

completely nullified by the iscomfort and unreliability of sea While generally speaking

Mr transp waterways and lochs have.

the inn

are su

Auckland, Nov. The New

Finance Minister, Zealand CONTROL

Waller Nish, declared to-day that to determined was New Zealand

war given fair service to tourists, for Army. Washington, Nov. 5-The

pre-war and Navy Departments to-day ap help Britain to regain her

clusively provided, Improvements the Dominion's good

still necessary in the food and pointed Lt-Gen Lewis Bereton and trade position even at the risk of whom the steamers are almost ex-

T. A. Solberg as endangering Rear-Admiral

with the United States and refreshment departments and It, is heads of their respective delegations, will to the Six-Man Military Committee Canada. He told under a four-year suggested that the training of um- Energy agreement all surplus products are ployees in dealing courteously with now going to Brilsin; to the limit inquiries by travellers unacquainted to serve with Commission.

with the history and geography of In her requirements. Lt-Gen Bereton commanded

Canada, in the past, had been a the country would help to create a among the impression France and the first Allied airborne) urmy in 1945. Solberg heads the fairly good buyer of New Zealand good

Task Force Navy Research and served with primary produce but if Britain now travelling pubile.

Bikini-Central wanted goods there would not be

much left for CanadeBeuter News.

the Atomic

1 at

the Chinn-America SIDE GLANCES

Since the Government announced the identity of the export agure she wanted to Council, however, would be maintain- reach by the end of 1940, to enable ed as its China Division, and its her balance imports and exports, all China work would

possible encouragement has been

continue unim-

given to exporters in their task paired-Central News,

Increase exports during 1040 to 75%

higher, in volume, than the 1988 ex-100,000 operatives, and in wool of port figures. Wartime controls bave 37,000 us compared with pre-war. been lifted wherever possible to Inci-

litate movement of goods to over

Where 50 18 markets.

goods are still

the

extremely scarce, however, the cotton textile industry this has not been possible. Nevertheless, supply position has cesed consider ably over a wide range of goods and

It is announced now that in July

total export Ogures reached a peak by soaring to 20% higher than the monthly average Bgures of the year 1938.

As was generally expected, the holiday season has caused a fail in

In those Industries on which Britain production for export during the

must mainly depend for succeṛS

of

in month of August and a similar effect

month her expert target, ie. their expected during the

en- September. vehicle, production, elec-

MR Industries like

rical goods and

and chemicals, the gaina

have been most pronounced. As an

1638 has gone up four times.

combustion engines

year

On the basis of a 20-day working month, Britain's exports this have risen continuously from £55 example, the production of agricul- million in January to £82 million in tural machinery this year compared May an average increase of about

10%

then month. Since

the Per (400%

three movement has been good but frre- crònica and hoists

the most striking development locomotives six times; marine ular, the mos

the July figures four being shown In timea, while the figures for cars when the peak was reached.. have been more that

doubled.

Exports of telegraph and telephone In

tha January last 6,000 wireless sels were apparatus during August were Beat urond: the total for July of highest so far recorded, with South thin year па

$30,000 (five times the Africa the chlet buyer. Exports of cutlery hardware, implements and Bro-War - D

‹ RVCTATC).. Exports bl. thats of textiles in July, were instruments were, by value,

highest. higheat bath by value and volume probably by volume olso, the alace the end of the War, but in on record. August the volume, foll

foll by about A factor which must be considered the when reviewing the August export £1,000,000 compared with average of the previous three months; figures in the drop in shipments.on thus making it still further below account of UNRRA and NAAFI. the pre-war level. The problem of These are included in the export labour in the textile industry lo de figures and together they have drop serving of mecial local action by the ped to £5.7 million In August n British Government. In cotton, compared with 25.0 million for. Instance, there is a shortage of | July, 20

and

Iri

By Galbraith

Εχίν

Now

NA

"I told you, there'd be a lot of kissing scenes, but there' was one murder in it--you're never satisfied!"

Other angles of the tourist trame this discussed question wero week by delegates from all parts of Scotland, represents.ig local authori- other tles, the hotel Industry and interests who met at a conference in Edinburgh at the invitation of the Scottish Tourist Board. Four 'res to the success or the quisites industry were sted by the various committees of the Board.

con-

They were the renovating and re- decorating of war-scarred Scottish hoteis, improved transport including wider buses, a voluntarily tributed £30.000 a year, and resorts which will cqual the best interna- tional hollday centres. Mr Tom Johnston, chairman of the Tourist Board, said that if they got £10,000 contributed voluntarily each

year then they could make a big effort, but if the money was not forth- coming it would mean that Scotland did not want tourist trade. In that caso there were two alterna- tives, to approach the Government for money and ho did not feel optimistic about that course or to abandon the project altogether.

Exhibition in Australia?

LEE THEATRE

SHOWING TO-DAY AT 2.30, 5.10, 7.15 & 9.30 P.M..

As long as all the world loves a lover this romance

will livei

COMMENCING

Oh Boy!! Charles

BOVER

CUTUNDIA PICTURES SAMEN,

A Sidney Buchman Production A SONG TO REMEMBER

IN TECHNICOLOR

Faut Alerts. MUNI OBERON

CORNEL WILDE NINA FOCH GEORGE COULOURIS

Playb

Sidney Dahman

TO-MORROW

THE SCREENS NEW DREAM ZEAMY

Directed by CHARLES WOCH

Oh Baby!!

BACALL

IN WARNERS AGENT” "CONFIDENTIAL

WIE KATINA PAXINOU - PETER LORNE • VISTOR FRANCEN - GEO, COULOURIS

DIRECTED BY HERMAN SHEMLJE - PRODUCES BY HOBERT'BUCKNER • BASIC BY FRANZ MAKSA

Same a owed by Graham Greven

ALHAMBRA

FJOL LESSERY

BELA LUGOSM

"THE RETURN

in

TO-DAY & TO-MORROW 2.30, 5.20, 7.20 & 9.20 p.m.

OF CHANDU” Next Change! “AND THE ANGELS SING”

ORIENTAL

SHOWING TO-DAY: 2.30—5,15-7.30-9.30 p.m. ELLEN DREW

ROBERT PAIGE - PAUL LUKAS IN AN EXCITING DETECTIVE STORY PICTURE “MONSTER AND THE GIRL"

Next Change:

GATHAY

QUANCHAI ROAD WANCHAT -

"DUM BO

TO-DAY & TO-MORROW ONLY

At 2.30, 5.15, 7.15, & 9,15 p.m.

FIRST SHOWing in hongkong

SINGS RIDES FIGHTS and LOVE

'THE FIGHTING DEPUTY"

Starring Fred SCOTT

Phoobo LOGAN NEXT CHANGE ——- THE HEART speaks in a Great Picture "LASSIE COME HOME”

IN TECHNICOLOR

REMEMBRANCE DAY

EARL HAIG'S FUND HONGKONG.

Remembrance Day will be observed on 10th November,

Popples will be sold on Saturday, Dih November.

$0

2e is a day of remembratica dedicated

endured to those who fought and much between 1014/38 and 1039/43. it has become also an occasion when those in distant parts of the Empire turn their thoughts to Britain and feel that they share that great tradition which phu tam created and so.

maintained plendidly throughout the centuries,

It is even more necessary_than_etor betors to secure support for Enti Haig's Fund for the war Disabled. The need Is great, and the Committee of the Brit 1sh Lerton feel that you will wish to be identned in an endeavour to sueviste the distress of city present and future sifierats.

If you wish to contribute something to sa deserving & causa cheques should be made, payable to "lemembrance Day Fund And sent to Bears Percy Braith Hongkong. Hours: & Co. Windoor

Frees

So encouraging was the "Porth- Greets Perth" exhibition in Scot- now land's "Fair City" that it is proposed that Scotland shall stage a Donations will be acknowledged in the

exhibition in Perth, Australia. Th

would be the forerunner of a series

of exhibitions to duplay Scotland

pound,

IN AID OF

EARL HAIC'S FUND

SPECIAL SCREENING

of

"TRUE GLORY"?!

at the

KING'S THEATRE

NOVEMBER 11

BAND OF THE JAIPUR GUARDS commencing at 10.30 a.m...

BOOKING NOW OPEN AT THE THEATRE

$5 and $3

London, Nov. 5:(UP)-The United

and its goods all over the world and well cooked, was extremely palatable] MOTORBOAT HITS BUOY capture a proportion of the overseas and now it appears to have achieved markets. This is an ambitious pro a lasting popularity in the south. comments that Ject but it has

To One estate factor great possibilities. achlove the desired results, how-whorens it now sells nt is

It would have to be planned he used to sell it at 14d a pound States Navy European headquarters to a fox farmer before the war. From announced to-day that one member of on a big and lavish acale.

infore the

the point of view of the people in the crew of the cruiser Spokono wan Before

was little war there demand for venison either in Scot- the north, on the other hand, there missing after one of the ship's motor land or across the Border but meat is a disadvantage in this now-found beat struck a buoy and capsized in

readyPortland harbour late last night, rationing brought the flesh of the popularity of venison. The

The Navy sald three sailors were deer to the public de an unrationed market will mean that it will bo

The very scarce locally, and the Highland in the boat and two of them were res and not too expensivament,

leued. The nomca, were withheld, consumcis discovered that venison, pepole nro just a little resentful