BRITAIN'S DANGER.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 15 October 1919, Page 4

BRITAIN'S DANGER.

A LABOUR MINISTER'S WARNING i Sir George Ridjlell was the guest at dinner of the Weekly Newspaper and Periodical Proprietors' Association in i London recently, -svhen occasion was I taken to present t 6 him a lacquered j Oriental cabinet and a silver inkstand as a token of esteem and recognition j of his services as chairman of the Association, ( Sir Robert Home; responding to tho toast of "May-Trade and Commerce Flourish," said unfortunately the country did not realise the necessity of increased trade and commerce. In 1013, 257,000,000 tons of coal were produced, last year . 235,000,000 tons, and'this year we should produce only 214,000,000 tons. The falling off of 73,000,000 tons less than the 1013 pro-', duction was the amount which we exported in that year, the amount which enabled us to'pay our debts abroad—£so,ooo,ooo. The most serious thing was that we were robbed of a commodity which formed the cargo our ships carried on outward voyages from which they returned bringing the raw materials to this country. To-day the ships had to go out in ballast, and in consequence the cost of every article was twice as much What was happening in . the coal trade was happening in many other trades of the country. Increased production was as necessary to-day for the sake of the country as it iwns necessary to make shells in 1916. Tlie tendency was to relax it. We were in the most dangerous period of our history. M v. rjif, He did not despair, but had complete confidence that once the country realised the position it would tackle the problem as earnestly as it did the problem of the wtir.