Tt is almost impossible at this distance from London to give any very definite idea of the total amount which such as strike as that which is proceeding in England fneans in actual loss, Even more diffenlt is it to arrive at any fair estimate of the damage done to international trade, not only with regard to imports into' the United Kingdom, but also with regard to exports." Adequately to realize the picture it is necessary to bear in mind the dependence of Great Britain on foreign countries for the greater portion of her foodstuffs, for it has been said by economists, time and time again, that Great Britain is only self-supporting for something like six weeks in the year, so that, if we attempt to arrive at a fractional expression of the country's position, it would be that twenty-three—twenty-sixths of Great Britain's daily needs have to come from abroad. Figures in the aggregate are generally so imposing as to give an entirely false impression, as, for example, the news of 700 tons of flour convoyed through the streets. of London, at first sight seems a great deal of flour, Actually it would mean about. four ounces per head for the whole population of London for one day assuming the inhabitants of the metropolitan area to number a little lover 9,000,000. To bring sulicient, flour into London to give each person 1 Ib. each would require nearly six of such convoys, or about 600 lorries instead of the 104 reported. And of those 600 lorries 530 would, be filled with foreign flour, taking' the ratio we have set out above,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.