'The quantity of cargoes delivered into the United Kingdom are depend: ent on the distance of the source of tupply from' Home, the number. capacity, and speed of vessels ployed, on weather conditions, tre effect of hostilities, and also on the humorous delays which occur in run ning shipping even under norma! conditions. We do. know. from. Friends at Home that as far stuts are concerned there wreciatle shor age, our crops are ote stocks. of imported. stave odstuffs are well built up. We also now that the industrial' life of tha United Kingdom is proceeding at Jace considerably above norma aving that the import of raw materials upon which our war eff depends is progressing in enormot Guantities; therefore, one can enn fidently conclude that our -essenti reeds are more than catered for. In spite of this, it is_necessary to be prepared for' what may. be in store for us, for any eventuality. - Under present conditions our resources are never too "great and therefore no effort on the part of ship and engine jeuilders and repairers in every part fof the Empire will be too great to cope with the demands upon them.
Regarding export trade from. the! United Kingdom, the figures supplied by Mr. Cross a' few months ago are striking and show that under the most adverse conditions experienced at sea and in spite of the dangers and risk of losing ships, our export trade being carried out on substantial lines. The seas are being kept open for our use by the glorious efforts the Royal Navy, not only for main "ming the livelihood of our country but also for the transport of 0 troops and: munitions of war.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.