December i, 1903.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



81 



THE INDIA-RUBBER TRADE IN GREAT BRITAIN. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 



EVEN supposing the subject were sufficiently interesting 

 to most of the readers of these notes, it would be a 

 most difficult task to condense into a few paragraphs 

 the volumes of speech being poured forth at the pres- 

 ent time on Mr. Chamberlain's proposals. Among prominent 

 representatives of our rubber factories Mr. Cham- 

 the berlain can number supporters and detractors, but 



fiscal j t j position to say which party is numer- 



question. , K ' . v , 3 



ically the greater. I may mention, however, that 



there are those who, while strongly denouncing the scheme for 

 bolstering up tradewith our colonies by preferential tariffs, and 

 who loudly proclaim themselves Free Traders, are at the same 

 time not at all adverse to the imposition of a duty upon manu- 

 factured rubber goods entering this country. The free traders' 

 great point is that under this system all the requirements of a 

 manufacture can be obtained in the cheapest market, thus ena- 

 bling them to make goods of a superior quality for the same price 

 of production prevailing in a protected country. This is what 

 enables Great Britain, they say, to retain her hold upon foreign 

 markets in spite of protective tariffs in the latter. One of the 

 results of these tariffs, where they are sufficiently high, has been 

 the establishment in the protected countries of works financed 

 by foreign capital. The textile factories in Italy, Spain, and 

 Portugal are evidence of this, and where the invaders have su- 

 perior technical knowledge it is generally found that home 

 firms get the worst of it in competition. 



The present year, with its records in the way of rainfall, 



comes rather opportunely to one class of manufacturers, at all 



events, whatever may be its dire effects on the 



THE agricultural interest. Such continuous wet 



WATERPROOF . . , . . ., 



trade weather as we have experienced could hardly 



fail to bring about an improvement in the branch 

 which has witnessed such a long period of depression, and there 

 are indications on all sides that the deposed macintosh is again 

 assuming prominence. And perhaps it is not altogether to be 

 deplored that the business seems to be practically restricted to 

 the better quality goods, the demand on the large scale for 

 the cheap article of dubious rain-repelling properties not hav- 

 ing at present, at all events, manifested itself. Of course it 

 must not be assumed that the high class rainproof cloth has ex- 

 perienced any decided setback in popularity, because especially 

 with regard to the product of Messrs. Mandleberg's works there 

 is plenty of evidence to the contrary. The position is rather 

 that the limitations of the rainproof article are now pretty well 

 recognized, the natural sequence being a recognition that the 

 wardrobe of those who have to be out and about in all sorts 

 of weather is incomplete without both a rainproof and a macin- 

 tosh. So much for generalities ; with regard to the technical 

 aspect there is nothing of particular novelty to record. From 

 a general business point of view manufacturers do not look up- 

 on this branch of the rubber trade as likely to prove a remun- 

 erative one, and this because of the continued cutting of prices. 

 There are too many in it, and the natural eagerness to get the 

 trade has led to the adoption in some cases of tactics which 

 must eventually prove detrimental to its development and sta- 

 bility. I am not referring furtively to the use of substitute 

 instead of rubber ; this has long been with us. I was thinking 

 rather of the reduction of dimensions. Where one firm sells, 

 let us say a cloak of sufficiently ample dimensions at a certain 



price, a competitor steps in and offers apparently the same ar- 

 ticle at a lower price. I say " apparently the same," because 

 measurement will show that the area of superficies is consider- 

 ably reduced, accounting for the lower selling price. It is said 

 and no doubt with truth, that the reduction in dimensions is a 

 cause of injury to the trade because the article fails to give that 

 satisfaction to the wearer which one of more ample dimensions 

 would do. The point seems one that might with advantage en- 

 gage the attention of the Rubber Manufacturers' Association, 

 though it seems very doubtful whether remedial measures 

 could be taken. 



The old established fire engine manufacturing business car- 

 ried on at the Metropolitan Works, Salford, Manchester, by 

 William Rose & Co.. has recently undergone an 



a new important alteration in its name and management. 

 fire hose „, . . . , . 



company T" e business has been taken over by a new company 



with the title of the William Rose Hose Co., Limited, 

 the capital, privately subscribed, being ,£50,000. The first di- 

 rectors are William Rose, James E. Baxter, and David Mose- 

 ley. Such a strong directorate is a good augury for the con- 

 solidation and expansion of the business in fire hose so long 

 carried on by the first named director. Whether the energies 

 of the new board will be devoted to furtheringeffective compe- 

 tition with the two great fire engine firms of Merryweather 

 and Shand is a matter for speculation and one that does not 

 call for comment. The Metropolitan works are fitted with the 

 best machinery for weaving flax hose and of course the new di- 

 rectors are in a position to see to the manufacture of the rub- 

 ber lined hose which is the quality exclusively used by the 

 Metropolitan (London) Fire Brigade. With regard to this 

 matter of rubber lined hose, a considerable difference of opin- 

 ion is found among fire brigade authorities, the example set by 

 London being by no means generally followed by provincial 

 municipalities. 



A stranger paying a first visit to the works of this old- 

 established firm at Tottenham might naturally express surprise 

 at the small acreage they cover. The explan- 



WILLIAM WARNE atj f course j s that lhe new works at 



& CO., LIMITED. 



Barking being now in full operation, a con- 

 siderable portion of the old works has been demolished, only 

 certain branches of the business beingf now carried on at the old 

 address. Messrs. Warnes, although having nothing to grumble 

 at as regards trade generally, are in agreement with the prevailing 

 opinion that the present high price of the raw material isacting 

 adversely on the output. As I write, however, the prospect of 

 a considerable reduction is imminent, and there can be little 

 doubt of a spurt in business resulting. Messrs. Warnes' special- 

 ty continues in the elastic thread of which they turn out, I 

 think I may safely say, considerably more than any other house 

 in the world. 



Newspaper warfare is rarely interesting to others than 

 those primarily concerned, and I do not propose to say more 



than a word or two by way of rejoinder to 



'NOMENCLATURE _.,_., , . . , . . . .. 



of rubber.'' Dr. Weber s remarks on this subiecc in the 

 October issue of this Journal. In his usual 

 jealous regard for the language of his adopted country, he com- 

 ments adversely on my employment of the term " tirade." Here, 

 I am afraid, we mustjemain at variance; with regard, however, 

 to his general plaint it appears that I was in error as to the trend 



