AIMS OF WORLD COTTON TRIBUNAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 104, 27 January 1920, Page 7

AIMS OF WORLD COTTON TRIBUNAL

SOLUTION OF TRADE PROBLEMS. Creation of a. world organisation of cotton men, with aims in the cotton trade similar to those of the proposed Leacrne of Nations among the Governments of the world, was one of the achievements of the World Cotton Conference in New Orleans (says a correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor"). The aims of the new movement were presented in an address at the conference by \V. Irying Billiard, manager of the industrial service department of the Mer--I chants' National Bank, who pointed out that at the Ipast it would serve as a forum in which conflicting- views might' be heard, and that at the best it might, on request of• those conflicting interests, roach satisfactory solutions of trade I pHiloro through arbitration. Mr. Bullard expressed the opinion that the world cotton, league will 'have a beneficial effect so far as the general public is concerned, ihy reducing the cost of goods manufactured from cotton. "It seems to me that the resulting efficiency ought to have an excellent, effect so far as the public is 'concerned," he said. "With the present tendency towards reducing hours of labour, we must look for economics in production to improved mechanical processes. 'It is just hero that the world cotton league ivill prove -its value, I believe, for it will unquestionably make many economics nnssible, and will do a great deal to climinntt present wasteful methods. I have great hopes foi the success of the league in this respect."

Discussing the present tendencies in the cotton market, Mr. Billiard said: "EgvDt and the Sudan are looking for Increased outputs. Tile Spanish Government is aiding an increase of cotton acrense. There are possibilities in Africa, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia, and in Brazil. Pern, and Argentina. Japan, whose textile profits have multiplied almost, fivefold since 1913, plans to augment production in China. Korea,' and Formosa. England has its Empire Committee and its British Cotton Growing Association consideriiu; this problem. The latter socielv, which reports an average of G5.0A0 bales grown annually in African fields other than Egypt, in the past five venrs looks for considerably expansion shortly.

"America, however, growing G2 per cent, of the world's production as against 24 per cent, for her two nearest rivals. Egypt and India—must remain the grenl source of supply. And yot. here in the South the watchword is restricted output, on' the theory that 11,(100,(100 bales at high prices mean more profit at less effort than 13.f1f1f1.000 ore more bales at moderate- prices. Mirny associations of growors in the South are presenting costsheets to show that prices around -10 cents are riccessary under present conditions.

"Tim world asks for more cotton; tho South save less. Thus there develops a double conflict of apparent interest, between the growers and tho users of cotton, and among the many cotton-growing areas of. tho world. Here is where a world federation can be of universal , soryico. Without attempting to umpire or arbitrate unless requested it can serve ns a forum for nil these interests. They can better understand each other, tli'ey can learn from ono another. At the" least, such a federation can perform an inestimable some? by keening them all informed in an accurate, comprehensive way cm tho progress and tho problems of all, in raw materials, machinery, and fabrics, on acreage, crops, consumption, stocks, conslriidion, processes, costs, and prices, markets, and a- hundred other details. In the shifting conditions after the world war, the value of all this needs no elaboration." \ Discussing relations to tho genera! publie. Mr. Bullard said:

"Thcro may at times ariso tlia need of common watchfulness, or defence, in re. pnrtl to common interests, against policies or. laws or notations. Here m America we are none too placid over what wo call the H.C.L. and the' "prolileering" agitations and we kiioH'_ that conditions aro similar in all countries. "We join in wantng justice and equity; perhaps we may need to_ join in guarding against economic injustice.

"And in tho ranks is one of tho world's Brent problems left by the world war, and not peculiar to cotton—the status of Labour. Unrest among Labour is a byword to-day in evorv land international thought upon the problem is one of the provisions in the League of Naations covenant. The need of encouraging productivity, in an almost discouraging "atmosphere of personal relaxation or indifference, is ono of the world's prime needs. The fair solution of questions of wnges and hours is not easy in any country. The danger of a revolutionary radicalism is not a myth."