On Wednesday Mr. Ritchie addressed a speech on British Commerce
and Technical Education to the students of the Croydon Polytechnic. He was wise to insist strongly upon the need for more energy in our iron and steel industries, where Germany and Belgium are beating us by reason of their superior technical skill, and in hinting as he did that the remedy of Protection favoured by many would be no remedy. Prance, with her strict system of Protection, was losing ground. It was not long hours or low wages that gave Germany and Belgium an advantage in the iron trade, for in both those countries wages were somewhat higher and hours shorter. Again, in taxes and rates they had no advantage. Why then did they beat us? By producing a better article with less waste. The conclusion of the Deputation which lately went from England to inquire into the matter, ended thus : "The con- clusion we have come to is that we in this country must go to school again with regard to these matters." That was a moral which Mr. Ritchie applied to our industries in general. We were, however, he said, waking up. In 1891 only £750,000 was spent in technical education. Now we are spending on it at the rate of £4,000,000. That sounds satis- factory, but we wish we could feel certain that at least half of this vast sum is not muddled away without any real results.
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