A LOSS TO INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21220, 29 December 1930, Page 6

A LOSS TO INDUSTRY.

The death of Lord Mclehett—to not a few still better known, perhaps, as Sir Alfred Mond—removes' from the life of Great Britain a personality of very considerable prominence, and from that of the Empire a man whose utterances commanded attention. Lord Melchett’s name ,has been connected with manifold activities, for his acuteness of mind was associated with unflagging energy, but particularly with .the movement for the rationalisation of British industry. Though he occupied Ministerial office for some years, he was always pre-eminently a figure of the business world. The reference made by the King, in a sympathetic message, to his work in promoting the industrial welfare of the country expresses recognition of a conspicuous phase in Lord Melchett’s career. Sir Herbert Austin’s encouraging statement respecting the British motor industry, as reported in this morning’s cablegrams, appears to reflect an improvement, in the reduction of manufacturing costs to an economic level, enabling selling at competitive prices, very much in the directions aimed at so assiduously by Lord Melchett for the benefit of British industry as a whole. In the economic welfare of the Empire Lord Melchett took a deep interest, and to his views on that subject gave frequent expression. He was a strong advocate of the view that an overwhelming case

exists for the special stimulation of inter-imperial trade. In concluding a recent article under the title “A Business Man Surveys the Empire,” he wrote: “ The soldiers of the Empire were not divided when the sacrifice of war was demanded. Let us also be united to wrest, by peaceful means from unwilling Nature, a secure and prosperous life for our own and for future generations, of citizens of this great Empire of Peace.” As that of a man of keen intelligence and judgment, Lord Melchett’s counsel was respected and valuable in many matters upon which he could speak with authority, and his death represents a distinct loss to British industry.