MANUFACTURED IMPORTS
Sirs,—The Mercantilists used to teach: " Import only raw materials; export only manufactured goods," and, even with-free trade, the country has managed- to stick fairly -close to that precept., But in these days, when it is more than ever necessary to earn a living by adding our skill to imported z aw materials, we seem to be moving further from the ideal of these old economists. I know that we are importing furniture from Canada and Czechoslovakia, but what prompts me to write this letter it the realisation that we cannot even print our own books in the country now. Two examples have come to my notice, by a coincidence, both being reprints of works by Lawrence of Arabia; one was printed in Sweden and the other in the United States. Now both countries' currencies are " hard," yet we evidently prefer to pay for the printing and transport of the books, instead of importing the raw materials (either wood pulp or finished paper).—Yours faithfully, BM/BAEY
London, W.C. r.
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