Reference was recently made in the "Nertn-China Herald" to the formation of a new company
prominent Britis neering a group of Some of the "most Erma to be called." Dorman Long and Associates (China) Lid. Mr. Frank -R. Freeman, who has been appointed Managing Director, has now arrived in Shanghai and Aug. '8 gave further" information regarding the objects of the company.
'Mr. Freeman emphasises that the new Company exists solely for Gevelopment and negotiation with regard. to comprehensive engineering schemes in' China on behalf of members of the group jointly, and will mot itself, carry on busines: enter into contracts, provide fu: tance, or act as agent for individual firms in the group.
The projects which the new Company will study" are those _comprehensive schemes which, involve ing "many kinds of engineering product, demand. collaboration beween several firms, such as the construction of " railways, power Schemes, harbours and other public work serv Experience in other parts of the world in carrying out" such" contracts has shown that' intimate association and close. understand project between the firms concern. ing from the very inception of am
ed in it, together with a frst hand knowledge of local conditions and the means of providing single res-li' be clear that with regard
Where the nature of business ina as compared with countries mines of this character "in
more familiar and political at rangements more stable, it "is doubly important. to secure these conditions. It has been this consideration which has brought the new company into being.
Its objects are to study ce 38 in China so as to provide: information at first band to, its members; to assist in the development of important engineering schemes and carry out preliminary' negotiations regarding them and peprde 4 Union between the con: stituents firms in to projects as may be suitable them to carry out jointly. combination may perhaps be robinalae' wy "partings be garded as a bold one, having in mind the present political - condi tions obtaining in China, It has; however, been adopted after careful discussion with almost every authority interested in the rela tions between China and the Brit.
engineering. industry. The the criticism has further been" made that the introduction of this venture is premature, Those, however, who have had considerable important comprehensive con: tracts, will realise that it is better begin the field too early than
necessary before, contempt Tate "Especially in China, carrying out of important works of construction in a country" where conditions are remotely different from those in Europe or inthe British colonies, to have. available first hand, as exhaustive a body information as. possible.
Construction "of most large schemes of public works must clearly wait upon the existence of more stable political conditions and Probably finance from abroad. Des Pondeney as to the possibility ettled government or of foreign finance, on any large scale int immediate. future is understandable in the minds of those who have passed through the vicissitudes of Ghina's recent history, but nothing ie more certain than, thet at some: date, whether it be' deferred "two rs, or ten, a means of securing Ghipa's erseryance as a great indus: trial nation will be found.
When such an industrial re tion takes. place, one a most vrzent needs, will be an effec: five trunk-railway system. includ. ing the rehabilitation of her existing railways; the "provision of electric power and of all the other rear public services upon which modern industry' depends, I dently believed that the existence of the slew company can lo much to promote interest abroad "such undertakings, and to pro-Vide information which will hasten their successful development, and bring home to the British engineer ing industry and to British Snsncial quarters, a more complete understanding' of China's "require: meats in. these. directions, As the Cofupany exists purely for investigation and development, its
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.