[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."' SIR,—The London correspondent of
one of our Belfast news- papers writes : " The Imperial Tariff Reform Committee last night issued for circulation throughout the length and breadth of the country some interesting information, which ought to provide food for reflection." And here comes the information ! " Since 1873 no fewer than two hundred thousand spindles have been stopped in Ireland alone. No new mills have been erected, no additions made to pre-existing spinning machinery, whilst many buildings have become derelict." The Annual Report (thirty-sixth) of the Flax Supply Association for the year 1903, which is recognised as the source of correct information in connection with flax-spinning in Ireland, contains the following :—" The closing of a small mill in 1903 has reduced the number of spindles by 10,670, or 1.2 per cent. This makes the seventeenth place, containing altogether 175,603 spindles, closed within the last thirty years, but as the more fortunate concerns have increased their machinery by 112,300 spindles during the same time there is now only 63,283 spindles less than in 1872, or a net reduction of 71 per cent." Comment is needless ; but it looks as if Mr. Cham- berlain might have been better employed than in deceiving and being deceived.—I am, Sir, &c., H. MCCLEERY.
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