Promoting International Friendship
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BRITAIN is all out to promote its trade overseas, both in the Empire and in foreign countries. To achieve targets which in pre-war days would have been looked upon as almOst impossible, we must not only produce fine-quality goods competitive with those made by our rivals in those markets and with the home products in various countries, but we must establish cordial relationships with the respective nationals as well as their governments.
There is an old expression, "Business is business," but it has generally been found that friendship also counts for a great deal. It is difficult, if not well-nigh impossible, to promote good feeling entirely by correspondence; in fact, the reverse is often the case. The wrong reading of a letter may lead to friction which steadily grows until it becomes really serious, whereas a few minutes' chat and a meeting between wellintentioned parties may work wonders in dissipating the heat engendered.
Road Operators From Sweden Over 40 road transport operators from Sweden have been visiting England to study our transport methods and to see some of our factories and haulage depots in the vicinity of the Metropolis. Time, unfortunately, did not permit of their being taken to those many other undertakings farther from London which would have added to their interest and knowledge. However, they were able to gain a considerable amount of valuable information and observe that Britain, instead of being down and out, is putting forth great efforts to make a national recovery. They could, see that our machines are humming and our works hives of activity, and that, considering the difficulty of obtaining new vehicles for home use, our transport is being maintained at a remarkably high degree of efficiency.
One visit was paid to the works of a well-known vehicle manufacturer, and after having studied production methods and examples of the models built, there was what may be termed an informal sales conference, where the visitors were asked . to put forward any question they liked as to the suitability of the products for their own purposes, prices, etc. So encouraging were the iemarks made that the manufacturer in question immediately decided to open a campaign in Sweden at as early a date as possible. This indicates more fully than could anything else the great value of such visits from overseas. At the same time, the arrangements should not be one-sided. Our technical and sales people should go abroad as much as possible to see what exactly are the conditions which their products will have to meet, and to pave the way for further trade. Our operators and engineers can also gain much good experience in this way.
The particular party to which we have referred directly was making a return visit for one which some 50 members of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers paid to Sweden last October. At that time, there was a certain amount of criticism in Britain as to the need for this large " invasion " and doubts were expressed aS to the advantages which would accrue, but the case is proved.
Presenting a National Picture It is important that such visitors should not merely be shunted from one works or other establishment to another, but 'should be afforded opportunities of studying our general conditions of life. Consequently, the party in question was taken to theatres, a motorcycle speedway, a football match, and entertained at appropriate functions by the I.R.T.E. and the Road Haulage Association, the Minister of Transport and the chairman of the British Transport Commission being present at one given by the R.H.A. The members were also well entertained during the visits, whilst a whole day was devoted to a tour of beauty spots in the vicinity of London. We are assured that, they left our shores full of enthusiasm for our country and its people, if not quite so much for the results of our political regime.