It was entirely to be expected that Sir Harry "McGowan'sinsistance upon the greater efficiency of Japan compared with that of Lancashire in the textile trade and indeed throughout the whole of the former's industry, would sooner or later brine forth a retort from some representa tive of the English concerns eriiclzed. The chairman of the Col ton-Spinners & Manufacturers Asso-lation may. be right that if labour costs could' be eliminated Lancashire could produce as cheap as, if not cheaper than her formidable compe-titer, but no one in his sober senses would dream for one moment of suxgesting that the English textile worker would accept wages so. low as to permit of production equally as price as that of Japan. That there is: room for considerable reorg ganization in Loneashire has been apparent for years past. There probably every reason to suggest that there should be a. considerable change in methods of salesmanship as well, but the main fact, of which both Sir Harry and his critic appear to lost sight, is that the depreciation of the yen is a rent factor As any of which cither of the two have put forward. Be that as it may Sir Harry is not alone jg his ideas, regarding Japan. Members of the Economic Mission which visited the Far East afew years ago hold similar views. Their voices were alone erying in the wilderness. and while Sir Harry, by reason his position and outspokenes may command a fair amount of attention at the moment, there is a grave danger that the complacency with which Lancashire regards ils past success ses may ill fit it for the future in which the present struggle will Intensitied. Casual. indignant replies to critics of standing will avail the textile manufacturer nothing. On the other hand a realization of all the aspects of the present situation may do those concerned in England fan enormous amount of good, and It, for once they are persuaded out of the old British idea of muddling through Sir Harry McGowan's strict tures may not entirely have been without beneficial result,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.