149 



since he will obtain at least a salary (equal to sub- 

 stantial premia) for teaching our apprentices, and pro- 

 bably a Government loan either in the shape of plant 

 or money, together with a guarantee that Govern- 

 ment will not itself promote or aid competitive factories 

 within (five) miles on either side of him. If he declines 

 to co-operate there will remain the alternatives that 

 Government must open its own canning factory and 

 school wherever it may be convenient, or will endeavour 

 to co-operate with some other firm. I submit a general 

 idea of this canner's work and of the conditions I would 

 propose in a confidential appendix to this letter, and 

 should Government approve of the idea will open 

 negotiations. 



14. In drawing up proposals I have, as regards plant- 

 contemplated three alternatives ; (a) the provision by 

 Government of modern plant both for can-making and 

 canning, and for the lending of such plant to the canner 

 gratis in return for full instruction in the use of it ; {b) 

 the loan of funds to the canner who could then provide 

 his own plant ; {c) the simple training of our apprentices 

 by the canner in his existing methods and with his 

 existing plant. As regards («:) there are the difficulties 

 that we should have all the trouble and delay of choosing 

 and buying the plant, and that after all it might not suit 

 French methods or ideas ; also that he might use it- 

 carelessly and recklessly, as not being his own, and that 

 th^re might be endless disputes both as to the wear 

 and tear of the plant and as to the liability for any 

 repairs that might be needed ; this would be accentuated 

 as the three years' term came to an end. I mention 

 three years, for that term should suffice to train up a 

 dozen or more men who will serve as instructors and 

 experts to private enterprise or in Government instal- 

 lations, and the arrangement might then terminate. 



As regards ib) ; here Government would, like the 

 Congested District Boards in Ireland, simply lend the 

 canner such sum, say Rs. 6,500 (see /^^/r^: paragraph 19), 

 as would enable him to buy the proper plant, in the 

 selection of which Government should claim a voice so 

 that we may ensure good machines for modern processes ; 

 this sum might be lent free of interest for three years 

 and thereafter at 3 per cent, for another four years when 

 it should be recoverable, and it would be secured by a 



