HOME TRADE STATISTICS 87 



cured. The quantities and values of all goods 

 entering or leaving port, or crossing a frontier, 

 are reported exactly and as a matter of course. 

 The compilation of full tables from these detailed 

 reports is neither an expensive nor a difficult 

 matter : it demands only a fair amount of patience. 



To obtain full details of the home trade might 

 certainly cost more ; but thoughts of such ex- 

 pense as this should not weigh for a moment. 

 Lighthouses are costly to build and to maintain ; 

 the marine surveys necessary, when channels are 

 to be buoyed, are costly. But who grudges such 

 outlay when he is reminded of the loss by ship- 

 wreck it prevents ? 



To obtain these details in full might at first 

 need tact and good management. We have 

 already certain details of home production. The 

 Agricultural Board gives information respecting 

 the production of grains and other crops, and 

 as to the quantities of live stock in the United 

 Kingdom ; the Fishery Board reports on the 

 quantities of fish landed; and the amount of coal 

 produced is published. The census of produc- 

 tion adds further details. Why should not these 

 arrangements be co-ordinated so as to cover 

 effectively the whole home trade ; and why 

 should not this co-ordination and collection of 

 details be put in hand at once ? 



It is possible that some manufacturers might 

 strongly object to impart any information re- 

 specting the outturn of their mills. But would 

 such objections infer wisdom ? These details are 

 not required for publication ; such details never 



