[To TUB EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:9 Sin,—When Mr. Chamberlain
first opened out what he calls his fighting policy, he said that the tinplate trade illustrated better than any other branch of our industries the need of fiscal change. This declaration gives point .to a statement made on Friday, June 2nd, by Mr. T. J. Williams, whose
father, the late Member for Swansea district, was one of the most successful tinplate-makers in the kingdom, and who is himself proprietor of one of the largest works in the country. Mi.. Williams, as a prospective Liberal candidate for Gower, was addressing the Morriston Trades Council, and having commented upon the present prosperity of the trade, he said: "Considering that Germany had a monopoly of the tin trade at one time, it did seem strange, and pointed strongly in favour of Free-trade, that all America and Germany exported in tinplates in 1903 was 6,000 tons, as against 422,058 tons by this country, nearly the whole of which was manufactured by gallant little Wales." If Mr. Chamberlain's faith in facts Las not been wholly destroyed, he may find the above very useful. At all events, they will serve to show that the tin- plate trade does illustrate the effects of tariffs upon industry.
—I am, Sir, &c., THOMAS REES. "Conan-la Daily Leader," Castle Square, Swansea.
Previous page
