IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

A RECENT Reuter’s message quoted an interesting comment by the Times Trade Supplement on the fact that large South African orders for railway materials had been placed in Germany instead of in England. The paper did not say what was the extent of these orders but merely stated that these orders followed the contract for five locomotives for India with a Hanover firm and other contracts with firms in France and Czecho-Slavia. Most of the Indian orders for railway materials have, as a matter of fact, been placed with British firms. It has also been stated that even when British tenders were for larger amounts than those of Germany, orders have been given to British firms for other reasons. This is no matter for surprise when one remembers that last year, when the Government of India decided to spend one hundred and fifty million during the next five years in purchasing railway materials, it was understood that most of the orders would be placed with British firms so as to give employment to British workingmen. But the announcement made by the Times that “large South African orders have been placed in Germany” and its own comment that “a country which jealously clings to a policy of free imports” cannot logically complain “if the Dominions and India choose to buy from the cheapest markets” are bound once again to draw forcible attention to India’s position in this matter. If so stout a champion of white Empire as South Africa has not been able to show preference to British goods but has patronised German firms, may it not be reasonably asked why India should not likewise be permitted to purchase her railway and other stores in the cheapest markets?

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#England #Germany