[TO THE EDITOR OP THE . SPECTALTOR."1 SIE, — Whilst I cannot suggest

the pottery trade as one which has been ruined by Free-trade, it seems to offer an example of a trade which is very rapidly being ruined, and which would be undoubtedly greatly benefited by Protection. The figures for 1902 are :—

IMPORTS OP CHINAWARE AND EARTHENWARE.

From Germany. Holland, EXPORTS OF CHINAWARE AND EARTHENWARE. To Germany, Holland, Bel- Belgium, France 4926,754

gium, Franco ...

£213,954 From other countries ... 54,767 To U.S. America 490,275

To other foreign countries 333,633

To British possessions ... 693,809

£981,521

21,731,731

As a constant reader of the Spectator, and a Free-trader, I shall be grateful to have any suggestions from you to help me to convince a pottery manufacturer or workman that a 20 per cent. duty on imported pottery would not be a reasonable means of raising an old-age pension fund. The old arguments that the country will never pay a dole to the pottery business alone, and that all-round Protection would diminish the general trade of the country, have but little weight with the man who sees the trade of a district of three hundred thousand inhabitants in a state of stagnation owing to German competition, and his trade embarrassed and threatened with restrictions from which his German competitor is quite free. The exports to the United States in the face of a tariff of 60 per cent, show that the English potter is not lacking in energy and watchfulness, but unfortu- nately those exports are diminishing rapidly—viz. : 1900, £589,778; 1901, £502,544; 1902, .6490,275—whilst the exports of pottery clays from Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall show a con- tinued increase, more especially to the United States, whose pottery manufacturers, not content with such a high wall of Protection, have discovered that a large admixture of English clay is essential to the successful manufacture of their earthen- ware of good quality.

Perhaps the manufacture of the cheaper class of chinaware, which is almost solely confined to the town of Longton, shows he nearest approach to the ruined trade you are searching for. If the returns were carefully separated, it would probably be found that whilst the imports of these goods from the Continent were fully £700,000, the exports to the same countries would not reach .620,000. Beyond the ever-present difficulties of very high local rates, and of excessive canal and railway transit charges, and the threatened Government restrictions, from all of which the German is happily free, there is no reason why the whole of this imported chinaware, and, in fact, all the pottery now imported, could not be manufactured in this country.

[We cannot for a moment admit, even on the figures which our correspondent gives, that the pottery trade is being ruined by Free-trade. As usual, no figures are available for the home market ; but we expect that the demand at home has been constantly increasing. That rates and railway charges are too high is more than probable, but why should not those who are anxious about our home industries attack these evils rather than seek to tax the whole community in the interests of a single trade F—ED. Spectator.]