EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
A PLEA FOR CLEAR THINKING. •
Mr. William H. Glossop writes : " It is indicative of an apparent lack of clear thinking in the public mind that we are told simultaneously that : (a) We must ` Buy British Goods ' and so reduce the volume of imports, create employment, and (we are told) increase national prosperity. (b) We must stimulate our export trade, upon an increase of which (we are told) a large reduction of unemployment depends. -(e) That our shipping industry is of paramount importance ; that its present deplorable state is evidence of disease in our economic life ; and that upon a revival of shipbuilding and shipping depends in large measure a return of prosperity in important areas and industries. Which of these partially incompatible desiderata is to direct our economic policy ? Do we prefer concentration upon home, to the exclusion of foreign pro- duction, with its possibly consequent decline in the real value of money wages ; or are we sufficiently wealthy to prefer to stimulate exports whilst taking payment for the increased production in foreign investments ? Otherwise, if we desire large exports, but will not take imparts, how do we propose in the long run to take payment for our goods ? Since foreign trade is not usually pursued unless an advantage accrues from it, are we prepared to sacrifice that advantage by deliberately restricting foreign trade ? "
• CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
Mr. J. L. M. Barrett writes " A great deal is heard nowadays on the subject of cruelty to animals. Violent articles proposing the abolition of fox-hunting as a cruel sport appear from time to time in the Sunday Press. Eyery year One hears that the fences of the Grand National should be lowered. Yet far more obvious cases of cruelty than these occur every day in our big cities. Take the case of heavy draught horks. This is an age of motors and consequently slippery tarmac roads. Yet horses are still compelled to pull the same heavy loads round sharp corners, up and down steep inclines, with insecure footholds. Motors swirl around and across them. The drivers wrench at their mouths to avoid Collisions. Those who doubt cruelty in this case can study the subject almost anywhere in London. Let them picture them- selves carrying a sack of corn up an ice track whilst being lashed and cursed for slipping in their attempts. Again in circuses it is not reasonable to suppose that a horse will walk on its hind legs or a dog turn somersaults for the hope of a reward. If this were so the trainer would be armed only with meat or sugar. Now, assuming cruelty to be used in these cases and fear the method of impulsion, how much is likely to be used to make a dog climb a ladder to the ceiling of a theatre and then dive into a tank of water ? Nothing less than cruelty would make a lion perch on a tub before a noisy crowd ! "
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