THE FUTURE OF COTTON

Evening Star, Issue 20373, 3 January 1930, Page 1

THE FUTURE OF COTTON

TRADE HOT DOOMED Discussing the outlook of the cotton industry in Lancashire, a writer in the ‘ Fortnightly Review ’ suggests that probably too much attention is being devoted to tho discovery of'means for reviving the trade in coarse grey cloth which other countries are able to produce themselves and will continue, to do so, even if they have to raise high tariffs against Lancashire. “ Even *t wo do not recover any of that which lias been lost, our cotton trade remains a very large one,” he continues. “To say that the whole trade is doomed is ridiculous. It is far too varied. There are plenty of units who have succeeded in doing well all through tho bad years We are still the largest exporting country of cotton textiles, and the home trade alone is not inconsiderable. All this will be stimulated by a cheapening of the cost of production. Tho same applies to the trade in new styles which we hope to see developed by ingenuity and craftsmanship. Ingenuity has not been lacking in the past, and one feels that it must still bo present in plenty, unless it is being concentrated upon the newer industries of Great Britain. It has, however, been a peculiar feature of British mentality that a stimulus of impending disaster is required before the latent ingenuity of the people can really reveal itself. Witness the many rapid improvisations brought about by tho war. Possibly the cotton trade is not yet sufficiently near to the abyss to awaken such inventive powers. Howbeit, upon ingenuity the future must largely rest, and upon the elimination of the inefficient producers.”