COTTON 173 



cotton-growing has proved a success, but in times of drought 

 the crops are liable to be destroyed. Nevertheless, it is believed 

 that in the future cotton may become an important export. 

 The industry is at present in the experimental stage, but three 

 advantages point to a successful future : the excellent quality 

 of the cotton produced, the suitability of the climate, and the 

 abundance of cheap labour obtainable. 



In Queensland, labour is the difficulty. There are many 

 districts where both soil and climate are all that could be 

 desired, but, as before explained, cotton-picking is a slow and 

 tedious operation, and Australians do not care to engage in it. 

 And, eyen if they did, their wages are so high that the final 

 cost of the cotton produced would be much greater than that 

 grown in other lands, where labour is cheaper and more 

 abundant. 



On the other hand, it is contended that the quality of 

 Australian cotton is so good that it can command a high 

 price, and it is suggested that by co-operation among growers 

 the cost of picking might be reduced, so that the final price 

 of cotton might enable them to compete with those of other 

 countries. 



Another suggestion made is that immigrants from over- 

 crowded Malta, accustomed to work in the cotton-fields of 

 their own island, might be encouraged to settle in Queensland 

 and engage in similar work there. 



SUMMARY. The amount of raw cotton consumed in the 

 United Kingdom is 2,008 million pounds a year, which works 

 out to about 44 pounds for each person in the nation. 1 



Of this enormous quantity more than three-quarters comes 

 from the United States. 



Of the remainder Egypt supplies us with a little over 

 14 per cent., India 2 per cent., and other countries the rest. 



The amount of empire-grown cotton (neglecting the Indian 

 crop), exported to foreign countries, is calculated to be sufficient 



1 This is the average of the five years 1909-13, and of course takes no 

 account of the cotton goods exported. 



