Abstract

From Distress to Development: II. Mr. Smith Goes to Team Valley

The directors of Universal Gadgets Inc., an American firm, decide that it would be profitable to open a British branch to supply their customers in Britain and the sterling area. Vice-President John Smith is, therefore, sent to London to look over the situation and see if he can find a suitable factory. His instructions are to rent premises, if possible, since the company does not want to make too large an investment until it has gained experience of production under British conditions and tested the market. Smith is conducted to the Board's planning room, the walls of which are covered with maps and charts indicating labor supply in different parts of the country, communications, power facilities, location of industrial estates and surplus war plants, and so forth.