FROM NORTH OF TWEED

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 32

FROM NORTH OF TWEED

A LETTER TO OVERSEAS SCOTS

By

Robert S. Angus.

EDINBURGH, April 16. The Convention of Burghs, which is the oldest representative body in Scotland, if not in the Empire—it dates from about the thirteenth century, and at one time weilded great power—has set itself to an interesting task by deciding to form a National Development Council, with a view to promoting the industrial, commercial, and economic interests of the people.” Such an aim must command respect and goodwill. How it is to be accomplished remains as yet obscure. The proposal was made by that grand old ■ ithusiast, Sir Henry Keith, of Hamilton, but in so far as he went into particulars he was not en eouraging. He specified such ideas as the mid-Scotland ship canal, the estab lishment of Scottish air stations, the arresting of the migration of industries to the south, and the proper use of the electric power which is soon to be generated in the North of Scotland. In the last respect we do have an advantage. for our “ grid ” system will be the first in operation. I suspect that the promoters had also in mind the construction of road bridges across the Forth aiffi the Tay. I hope they will not prejudice an excellent idea by setting out on the collection of white elephants in the expectation that the Imperial Exchequer will pay for what the local authorities have hitherto declined to support to more than a negligible extent. ECONOMIC FACTORS.

How far the present decadence of Scottish industry is due to factors be yond human control is too large a ques tion to be discussed here. One of the convention speakers blamed the method of grouping the Scottish railways. But it is fair to recall that when the scheme was first published the proposal to form a self-contained Scottish group was vehemently, and as I think, rightly, resisted, and Sir Eric Geddes had to abandon it. Another complaint is that so many of our Scottish hanks, through association with one-or other of the “ Big Five,” have lost their independence. But I have not , heard it alleged that our business men have thereby been deprived of the financial accommodation they need,-A No doubt in some cases the amalgamations'with large con ■ cerns in the south have resulted in the removal of control .from Scottish hands, and in the process of rationalisation local establishments have been shut down. But it is to be'recalled on the other side that great firms like Harland and Wolf, John Brown and Company, Yarrows, and Singers have set up great works on this side of the Tweed, and at the present moment the best contract we have in hand—the building of the Cunard liner at Clydebank—has come from the south. LOCAL RATES.

I have no doubt the first thing the industrial leaders will say is that the convention, through the local authorities which it represents, should discharge an immediate duty and contribute to industrial recovery by reducing their rates. On the whole I believe we are better off in that respect than England, but the recent increase in the amount of that burden has been formidable. Recovery in the long run must depend on individual enterprise, and it is difficult to see how, except in the most indirect way, that can be stimulated by our municipal rulers. We have not hitherto been accustomed to admit that we are lacking in that respect, and I have no doubt that when world conditions are more promising our captains of industry will be as alert as their predecessors to seize their opportunities. The woollen trade delegation which is now touring the Continent of Europe is a reminder that our business men are not content to sit at home and wait for better times. FISHERMEN’S PLIGHT.

Another topic which occupied the convention was the continued invasion of foreign trawlers in the Moray Firth, from which our own trawlers are excluded. Even the local church presbytery has passed a resolution condemning what is undoubtedly an anomaly. But the critics have still to show that any of the remedies they propose would not be worse than the disease. The problem is complicated by difficult questions of international law, and it is idle to suggest that in defiance of that code our warships should be ordered to exclude or eject the foreigners. Our own trawlers roam the seas far and wide, and the closing of the Moray Firth would lead to reprisals which, on balance, would be to our disadvantage. The plight of the line fishermen in some of the northeast coast villages is exceedingly serious, but it is probably due more to the competition of British than of foreign trawlers. FARMERS AND MARKETING. Edinburgh farmers interrupted their business for an hour at the Corn Market this week in order to listen to speeches from three Unionist M.P.’s in denunciation of the Government’s Agricultural Marketing Bill. Experience elsewhere, especially in the dominions, justifies doubts as to the efficacy of these pooling arrangements. But, to judge from the speeches as reported, no one mentioned that the various branches of producers will be free to decide whether they should adopt such a scheme and will have the management of it in their own hands if they do. One thing is clear. The farmers must either organise

schemes of their own or have schemes thrust upon them if they are to have any hope of holding their own. They continue to demand the exclusion of foreign imports by means of heavy duties or even by prohibition, evidently unable to realise that these measure's are at present politically impossible, and that even if they were adopted much would be gained by a more scientific method of disposing of their goods. DEATH OF AN M.P. Mr William Wright, the Socialist member for Ruthergleri, who has died after a long illness, belonged geographically but not politically to the Clydeside group. Unlike the members of that c 'terie, he had come through hard times in his youth, and these, combined with his studious habits had taught him a tolerance which is becoming increasingly rare in modern political' controversy. For many years he was a speaker on behalf of the Scottish co-operative movement, work for which his quiet and cultured style fitted him. He found bis greatest pleasure among his books and in his garden, and took no part in the noisier activities of his local colleagues. ST. ANDREWS GRADUATES. St. Andrews University has made some distinguished selections for the honorary degrees to be conferred at next graduation. They include Lord Irwin, the retiring Viceroy, who, it is hoped, will he back from India in time to receive the honour in person; Mr E. W. Beatty, Chancellor of M'Gill University and president ot the Canadian Pacific Railway; Sir James Jeans, secre tary of the Royal Society, whose forbears belonged to Elgin; and Dame Laura Knight, the well known artist. MEIKLEOUR’S FORTUNE. Meikleour, that charming village on the Perthshire-Angus border, was the scene of a pleasant ceremony last Saturday when it came formally into possession of the public hall, which has been in course of erection for some months. It is the gift of Sir James Carmichael, whose father was the vilage shoemaker.’ Sir Janies served his apprenticeship locally as a joiner, went to London as a young man, and there has become head of the great firm of building contractors. As was to be expected of such a man the building is both artistic and substantial. It comprises a library, and a recreation room, and appropriately occupies a site next, to that on which stood the shop of the donor’s father. The opening ceremony was performed by Lady Violet Astor, widow of Lord Charles Spencer Nairns and mother of Master George Mercer. Nairns (grandson of the late Lord Lansdowne) the heir to the Meikleour estates.-Sir James Carmichael handed to' the local committee a cheque for £lOOO as an endowment fund to meet establishments charges, so that the new and much needed centre of social life will entail no local burden. The ceremony was the occasion of great local rejoicing, and among those present was another distinguished native of Meikleour, Mr Donald Matheson, formerly Scottish manager of the L.M.S. Railway. SCOTTISH CHURCH MODERATOR. The Rev. Dr J. A. Graham has arrived home in readiness to take up his duties next month as moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly. He was on leave .last year but returned to Kalimpong in order to arrange for the continuance of his great work there during the year’s stay in this country which will be necessitated by his moderatorial duties. When these are ended he has every intention of returning to India, although he has reached an age which, if he had been in any other walk of life, would have entitled him to retire on pension. In the history of the British connection with India there is no brighter page than that which records the work of Dr Graham on behalf of Eurasian children. It must be nearly 30 years now since I first heard him describe with glowing enthusiasm the need for the work and the opportunities it offered. His homes were comparatively small affairs then. But they have grown under his inspiring leadership, and it is impossible to believe that, whatever the future may have in store f°. r India, anything will be done which will impair their usefulness. In honouring Dr Graham the Church has honoured itself and shown its appreciation of an enterprise, which is an expression of the highest missionary spirit. AIR TRAVEL. .My reference to the establishment of air stations suggests a mention of the remarkable experience of the Prime Minister on Monday, He left Lossiemouth a few minutes after 9 o’clock and little more than four hours later he was sitting at lunch with the Royal Air Force officers at Hendon on the northern outskirts of London, and by 3 o’clock he was at. work in Downing street. If it had been predicted, even 30 years ago, that such a feat was possible, the suggestion would have been received with blank incredulity. The feat is an indication of what may be possible in a future by no means remote to bring the Highlands of Scotland within quick and early reach of southern tourists.