SHORTAGE OF COTTON.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3443, 24 March 1920, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF COTTON.

BRITISH EMPIRE ’5 WANTS.

PROD UCTION IN COLONIES‘

NEED FOR DEVELOk’i\llL';\'’J.‘. ‘ Important reconiniendations are made by the Empire Cot.t-on-growiiig Colnmit.téo in a report published a. few weeks ago. The committee consisted of 21 members, appointed by ‘the Board of Trade, under the (2h:lirnlzlnship of Sir Henry Birchenough, and for tyvo years they have been inquiring into the increasing shortage of raw cotton, and possibly of the’ inereased production of the article with in the British Empire it.self_ Amongst their recoxnmendations are:—— That the work of the committee be continued, with. 'J.‘reasury grant of not less than £IO,OOO per annum for five years. That a bureau be established for the interchange of knowledge of cot-ton-growing. That the Governxnent of l‘i‘l(,' cottoin growing areas in the Empire should exercise strict control over all essential matters connected with cottongrowing. That the British Cotton-growing Association should not as niarketing‘ Oxgent. 0 4 That funds for cotton—gro\\'ing within the Empire should be provided by the , British Treasurf, the local revenues of, cotton-growing areas, and the cotton industry. ' That. a« Central Research Board be established as soon as possible, that financial provision be made for at least four reader-ships in a.ppropria'ie subjects at British universities, and funds provided for the awnrcl of research scholaréliips. _ With regard to the contribution from the industry itself, the committee suggest. thzrt a" fund should be raised on the basis of some kiml of levy. A possible plan, they sziy,‘ would be to impose :1 small sum on all cotton : imported into the kingdom; so sinall a isum as 6d per bale of 5OUlli'”i\\'o11l(l i raise £IOO,OOO per annum. _> .

In their report the eol'nm'ittee. (lx'a\\' attention to 'the serious sliortage in the supply of cotton, and state that it is essential for the f'uture prosperity of the country and for the welfzire of the colonies ‘that COtton~gl‘o\\‘ing should be developed as rapidly as possible in all suitable parts of the limpire. Experience showed that in many parts of the Empire the growing of cotton is,~ol' could be, made. exceedingly profitable to the country growing it. Egypt, the Soudan, Uganda, and some parts of “Test .'[n(li:lu IS1z1n(l.~' were nametl, and it is believed to be possible to gfow within the Empire the quantities alld quality of cotton that it V requires.

The report colltinues:~—"There is no doubt about the shortage of cotton, nor as ‘to its importaiice to Great Britain and the British Empire. Since July, ‘1917, the situation has become decidedly worse. Owing; in part to the necessity for growing more foodstuffs to meet the needs of the war, the cotton crops in the United States, in Egypt and in India, have Ibeen curtailed. Morcovdr, the seasons have been unfavourable, and the present season is giving rise to fears that the crops both in the United States and in Egypt will again be deficient. The advent of peace has in no way improved the situation. There is evidence of a world shortage of cotton goods, and there is no prospect whatever of there being a full supply of cotton for some years to come. Prices of e()tt(m. are already at levels far in excess of anything recorded Since the cotton famine of the sixties”