The conclusions upon the cost of Asiatic labour reached by Sir Herbert Rowell (as quoted in our Scottish Letter yesterday) will hardly pass unchallenged locally. Speaking of shipbuilding in the Far East, he mentions that both the Chinese and Japanese workers are more effective on the basis of cost of production than either the British or American workman. Before making this statement he has doubtless made a careful study of his subject, so it is the more surprising to find this conclusion, for inquiry made not so long ago led to a very different idea on the subject here. Not only in shipbuilding but in other trades was the opinion expressed that so far as skilled work was concerned it cost just as much here as it did at Home, because of the additional length of title required by the Asiatic workman. Unskilled labour is, of course, cheaper, but in a conclusion such as that made by Sir Herbert Rowell, a considerable proportion of skilled work must be understood. This statement about skilled workmen was made definitely by those who were well acquainted with their subject, and, it may be added, the tael was not at that time standing at anything like nine shillings, so to-day we are in a position more than ever to doubt the accuracy of Sir Herbert Rowell's findings. And in this connexion it is worth quoting a paragraph from Mr. von Heidenstam's report on the future development of the harbour: "There are reasons to believe that the cost of labour in China... will continue to increase until, at least at the places, which are' in contact with foreign countries, it will become almost equivalent that in Europe and America." The increasing tael is hastening such a condition.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.