. DOCTRINAIRES AND THE DYE SCHEME.
[To rem Enrron OF TUE " Serer...on:1
Sim,—As a reader of thirty years' standing, I have noticed with great interest your opinion on the Government's dye-ware scheme, and am not surprised that a paper of the standing of the Spectator should fearlessly expose the fallacy of this proposal. This scheme has been pushed here in Yorkshire on quite sentimental lines, and people who disapprove of it dare not say so for fear of being accused of lack of patriotism. It is, of course, a, pity that we do not make these dye-wares here, but this is no reason why we should in time of war rush into a business not based on proper business lines. It is a great reflection upon British dye-ware manufacturers that they should for so many years have allowed Germany almost to monopolize this lucrative trade; but nothing but slow, • patient, and persevering work, combined with scientific knowledge and enterprise, will be of any avail in this matter. No amount of capital or Government aid can possibly help us to supply during this war the dye-wares we have so far bought from Germany, and we shall have to get on as well as we can with the little we get from British and Swiss makers, supplemented by the old- fashioned wood dyes like logwood and fustic. The high prices now obtainable will no doubt induce British and neutral or Allied makers to increase their output, but installing new plant for this purpose is slow work. When the war is over we shall get as much dye-ware from Germany—directly or indirectly—as ever we want, and there will then be ample time for British makers to show what they can do towards capturing at least part of this highly profitable trade. As you suggest. Sir, the very fact that the Government are pushing this scheme may retard private enterprise in this direction, as many dye-ware manufacturers are now hoping to sell their concerns (in many cases quite antiquated) to the company now being promoted under Government auspices. I think I ought to say that, as I understand it, the use of alcohol, free from duty for industrial purposes, is allowed under Section 8 of the Finance Act of 1902 (2 Edw. 7, ch. 7); the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have, of course, to be satisfied that it will not be used for any other purpose.—I am,
Previous page
