BRITAIN'S TRADE IN WAR TIME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 5

BRITAIN'S TRADE IN WAR TIME

A REMARKABLE RECORD

SPEECH BY SIR ALBERT

STANLEY

(Roc. May IG, 0 p.m.)

London, May 15. Daring a discussion in the House of Commons on tho Board of Trade vote, Sir Albert Stanley (President of tho .Hoard of Trade) drew attention to tho enormous decline in Britain's imports since thenar began. Tho imports in 191? were only tiro-thirds as much as tho im. ports in 1913. He estimated that this year the imports would bo one-half of the total or 1913. Thoy must make .allowance for tho imports direct to France for tho armies, but Britain's resources bad proved marvellous. Nobody beforo would bavo ventured to prophesy that Britain could havo carried on as she had done with so little discomfort. It was a most valuable lesson, which ought to l)e borne in. mind after tho war. Our 1917 imports totalled 'jei,(I6S,MD,MO in value, and our exports .£398,000,000, including re-exports. These figures were misleading as indicating tho growth of our trudc, for two reasons, namely, the changed character of the goods wo were 'manufacturing, and the changed prico level since the war. We must remember, too, that a iurgo part of our lost trade was duo to tho cessation of trading with enemies and with Bolgium and Rumania. Ho estimated that over one-half of Britain's workers to-day were doing Gov. eminent work. The aggregate output of industry 10-day \ias little less than beforo the war. This constituted a truly remarkable performance. It was estimated that thcro wero now 11- million more women engaged on what 'was normally men's work than before the war.

The Railways. Tlio Government's control of tho railways had been- thoroughly satisfactory. The bargain with tho railway companies would show a. loss to tho State. Of all the big: services the railways alone had not increased tho charges for tho carriago of poods. Tho railways after the war would be faced with higher wages, and would not havo tho same facility in securing men, because labour would be. much scarcer than before the war. On tho general policy of State control, Sir Albert Stanley thought it would be ;>■ great pity if tho economics which unified control liad effected should not bo secured permanently to tho traders. The Government was applying a more>drastio coal-rationing scheme, and was also setting up a Priority Committee to determine the amount of coal consumption for industrial purposes, and also -a system of rationing for gas and electricity. With a view to preventing Germany's recapture of tho dyo industry, tho importation of foreign dye-stuffs would bo controlled under license for ten years;, Twelve thousand five hundred members of tho-mercantile marine had beon killed during the war, their dependants re. coiving a total of per annum. His Majesty approved tho award of badges to officers, seamen, firemen, and stewards who continuo to go to sea after being torpedoed or mined. The badgo >wlll bo in the form of a torpedo, and will be worn on tho left 6lccve.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.