160 COTTON 



operations commenced with the least possible delay. We 

 can at any rate congratulate ourselves on the fact that Lord 

 Kitchener has taken up this important question with his 

 well-known zeal and energy, and I think we can safely 

 leave the matter in his hands. 



SUMMARY. 



I now propose to sum up as shortly as possible the 

 results of our twelve years' work. We have spent 170,000 

 on experimental work, and although this may seem a large 

 sum to devote to this, I think we can rightly claim that the 

 results justify the expenditure. In the first place, we have 

 aroused the interest of the whole Empire in the possibilities 

 of cotton growing, and we have started a movement which 

 will go on for ever. Further than that, during the last 

 twelve years a really appreciable quantity of cotton has 

 been grown in new fields where little or no cotton was grown 

 before. 



In 1 903 the amount of cotton grown in new fields in the 

 British Empire amounted to only 1,900 bales, valued at 

 29,000. It is estimated that in 1913 78,800 bales were 

 produced, worth 1,170,100, and since we commenced 

 operations in 1902 no less than 360,640 bales have been pro- 

 duced, to the value of 5,195,100. We have also acquired 

 most valuable experience, and we have got a staff and 

 organisation fully capable of dealing with the work. While 

 not losing sight of the object for which the Association was 

 formed, everything is run on business lines as far as possible, 

 for it is essential that we should be able to pay our way, as 

 otherwise we should have to abandon the work. I think it 

 will be generally admitted that it would be a misfortune for 

 Lancashire, and indeed for the whole Empire, if the Asso- 

 ciation had to suspend or even to curtail its operations in 

 any way. 



In order to give you some idea of the magnitude of our 

 business, I may mention that 47,466 bales, to the value of 

 661,227, passed through our hands in 1913, and at the 

 present moment we have over 250,000 advanced against 

 cotton. We do all we can to help planters and others by 

 financing and superintending the sale of their cotton, and 

 we make a point of obtaining the very best price possible. 

 For these services we charge a small commission, which 

 brings us in a substantial sum towards our standing ex- 

 penses. We also supply machinery, plant, baling material, 



