MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE MILLING INDUSTRY.
I TO TUE EDITOR OF TUE "SPECTATOR,"]
Sin,—Mr. Chamberlain is reported to bare said in his Glasgow speech that his proposed Corn-duty would include a tax on
imported flour, with a substantial preference for the benefit of the home miller. He stated that his object in proposing this preference was to "re-establish " the milling industry in this country. Now, in order that there should be no doubt about the present condition of the industry which Mr. Chamberlain professes himself anxious to re-establish, I annex figures here- with, taken from Beerbohm's Evening Corn Trade List, show- ing the home millers' production and the importation of flour for the last eleven years, which prove that the home millers already produce more than three-fourths of the flour used in the United Kingdom. It will also be noticed that while the importations show a tendency to decline, the home millers' production is increasing in proportion. This would seem to show that the home millers are amply able to take care of themselves without any Protective discrimination created by a tariff :—
Year.
Imports. Sacks 2801b. Estimated home manufacture. Sacks 280 lb.
1902 7,775,000 29,225,000 1901 9,030,000 27,570,000 1900 8,616,000 27,784,000 1899 9,175,000 27,100,000 1898 8,400,000 27,600,000 1897 7,472,000 28,228,000 1896 8,528,000 26,872,000 1895 7,325,000 27,675,000 1894 7,653,000 26,947,000 1893 8,163,000 26,137,000 1892 8,850,000 25,160,000
—I am, Sir, &c.,
A. L.
[Mr. Harry Jones shows above that Mr. Chamberlain was quite as inaccurate in his declarations as to tinplate.— En. Spectator.]
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