LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
NATIONAL REGISTRATION AND COTTON FOR EXPLOSIVES.
[To Tar EDITOX or TUX " SPROTATOR."] SIR,—As one who has been advocating national registration as the first step towards the mobilization of the nation, I am pleased to see that Mr. Long introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday a Bill for the formation of a national registry.
On May 18th I wrote to the Press of the country pointing out the necessity for national registration, and my letter had a very large circulation, through the Press and otherwise, on May 20th. At the request of a considerable number of corre- spondents I followed this up by the formulation of a scheme showing how registration could be carried out simultaneously, quickly, and effectively by making use of the municipal machinery, assisted by voluntary workers. It is earnestly to be hoped that, in order to atone for the serious loss of time which has already elapsed in putting such a scheme in operation, there will be no delay in giving effect to the measure when it becomes law.
lain convinced that national registration will be of immense assistance to Mr. Lloyd George in carrying out his proposals. Of course every one is deeply concerned in making up the lee- way in the provision of munitions of war, and it is much to be hoped that there will now be a thorough co-operation of the industrial, mercantile, financial, scientific, transport, and labour interests with the Government, which has been advocated from the commencement of the war. If the Industrial Council which was appointed by the Government in 1911, and which consists of an equal representation of both Capital and Labour, were also brought into requisition, there would be no cause to regret that certain large bodies of workers have refused to accept compulsory arbitration. All that is necessary in their case is a fair hearing of matters in dispute by a body composed of experienced representatives of employers and workmen. But there is another matter of quite as much importance, and one which I have constantly brought forward. I refer to the economic problem of the prevention of supplies, especially of munitions of war, from reaching enemy countries, which I am convinced will be the decisive factor in bringing this colossal war to an end. For example, I am afraid the British Government does not yet fully appreciate the importance of preventing cotton, which is the main factor in producing high explosives, from reaching enemy countries from any part of the world. So far back as August, foreseeing a probable disaster to the cotton industry of the world through the outbreak of war, I made proposals for dealing with the cotton which, but for the war, would have gone to Germany and Austria.
The method I proposed could have been carried through through the usual trade channels. As it is, large quantities of cotton have filtered through neutral countries to both Germany and Austria. Owing to the price to which cotton fell, the purchase could probably have been effected below the cost of production. As is well known, cotton does not deteriorate if properly packed and warehoused, and will keep for years. Had this been done, the susceptibilities and interests of neutral countries, of which so much has been made, would have been respected, and those of the neutral countries which consume cotton could have been supplied with their ordinary requirements, and the difficulties of dealing with the cotton problem would thus have been immensely reduced. The sum required to carry out the transaction would have amounted to between sixty and seventy million pounds sterling, which I contend would have been an excellent investment, more especially if it had pre- vented the enemy countries from getting cotton for the manu- facture of explosives, aircraft, &c. Even if a loss had been entailed, what is that in comparison with the awful loss of life and the estimated daily cost to us of three millions sterling ?
In making these proposals I had two objects in view, one of which was the reduction of the inevitable loss to the cotton growers, merchants, spinners, manufacturers, and the dis- tributors of cotton goods. American cotton fell from 7id. to 4d. per pound, and the cotton grown in other countries, such as India and Egypt, of course fell sympathetically. A. rise or fall of an average of a halfpenny per pound on the cotton crop of the world represents about £20,000,000. Owing to the educational work which was carried on at the beginning of the present cotton season, and the enormous amount of cotton used for explosives, the price of raw cotton has risen considerably, and thus through the improved position of the cotton planter the chances of a disaster to the cotton trade of the world have been largely reduced. My second object, by far the most important, was to render it much more difficult for the enemy countries to secure cotton through neutral countries.
I contend that it is the business of statesmen to look ahead and provide for contingencies, and had such proposals as these received the consideration their importance demanded I venture to think that the position of the Allies to-day would have been vastly better than it is. Until a 'few months ago aeroplane cloth, which is so largely made in Lancashire, was undoubtedly getting to enemy countries through neutral countries, and it is a question if this is entirely stopped to-day.
In conclusion, and referring again to national registration, which must apply to women as well as to mon, I would like' to point out that the organization of women and children and the work they are carrying on in Germany at the present time are perfectly remarkable. One of the great services which national registration would render to this country would he to bring home to every one—especially to those who, largely through ignorance, fail to appreciate the extreme gravity of the situation—the imperative demand for personal service in this unparalleled national crisis.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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