Protectionist Statistics.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17225, 16 August 1921, Page 6

Protectionist Statistics.

We tave received some enquiries concerning the neglect of the Industrial Association to explain that unfortunate manipulation of trade 'statistics in its pamphlet which was the subject of some comment in these columns ladt, week. What tihe Association, may ultimately ''decide to saj we do not know, but in the: Jpaeantime there are some fresh figures to. which it may as well give .its attention. ; It will be remembered that in the pamphlet referred to the American and British imports .and exports for 1914 and 1919 were set out in tabular form as., conclusive evidence that protected America.liad outstripped unprotected Britain as on exporter, and was able to beat Britain in the British market for manufactured goods. We .pointed out that the great bulk of the American goods imported into Britain in 1919 were food and raw materials, and not, as the Association's statistician plainly, implied,; manufactured goods. In the second place we commented upon the serious impropriety of comparing the trade of the two countries in those years aijd presenting the figures as proof of the folly of Britain's fiscal policy and of the wisdom of higjh protection; The following were the figures quoted as "a further proof" of the contention that America flourished far more under Protection than Britain did | under Freetrade (we give only the round millions)*— ' i • Ml 4. 1919. ! Millions of Millions of £ £ British imports from .' all countries ... 697 1631 • Exports to nil countries, including reexports ... 625 962 Debit balance ... 171 669 The American figures (reduced to sterling on the basis of 5 dollars) were:— " . ,1914. 1919. Millionst>f Millions of £ £ I American imports... 337 ' 780 American exports ... 414 1550 ' It was hoped, we can only assume, tlhat the readers of the pamphlet would forget that the war began in 1914. . Now we should like to know what the . Industrial Association has to say concerning the following figures 1 which relate to the export of wlholly or partly manufactured goods:— ••• \ 1919. 1920 . Millions of MUli^nsof America's export of these goods 726 867. Britain's export of these goods 641 1121

1 Tie Safeguarding of Girls. Amongst the many subjects discussed by the Council of Christian Congregations last evening was the state of the law relating to offences against girls under the age of 36 years. It is sought to amend th,j law, firstly, by extending to twelve months the period within which an information may be laid, and, secondly;, by removing the provision that it shall be a valid defence if a man charged with having had improper relations with a girl under 16 can show that ho had reasonable cause to believe the girl was over 16 years of age. The first of these amendments is obviously required. But although everyone sympathises with the general aim of the second suggestion, there are some objections to it Although these objections were stated while the House of Lords was considering a Bill, in. March last, amending the English, law in the directions desired by those who presented a petition to the Council of Christian Congregations last night, the Lords passed the Bill. ' Nevertheless, the force of the objections remains. Lord Phillimore pointed out that in many cases the girl is wholly at fault, or, at least, as much at fault as the man, and "in these cases it would not promote "morality or respect for the law that " the man or boy should be punished." Lord Coleridge said that "cases constantly came before the Judges in " which the girl was the tempter, and if in such cases they let her go free and attempted to punish the young "man or boy, they would act contrary " to the opinion of the jury, and they " would havo great difficulty in prevent- " ing the jury from disregarding the "evidence before them." In a letter to "The Times" Sir Herbert Stephen, who speaks aB a Judge of long experience. condemned the Bill, which was introduced ,by the Bishop of London. "I "do not think," "he said, '"that it is "tile feeling of the public that where "two young persons are guilty of un- " chastity, or of immodest behaviour, " and the girl is old enough to take " care of herself, the man dti'ght to be "legally punished. I think the existing law is. as it ought to be, a shade "in advance of public feeling in the " direoticn of stringency, but at pres- " ent not more so than- the publio will " practically tolerate. The test is whe- " ther juries will administer the law as "it stands, or return what may. be "called dishonest verdicts because they "feel that the law is too severe. At " present they return verdicts very fair- " ly in accordance with the law, but I •" believe there will be a substantial "falling-o(f in this respect if the Bish- " op's proposals ore adopted." These are weighty opinions, which Parliament must take into account if it is called upon to consider amendments to thfe law.