Intyodnction xxvii. 



What the E.R.D.C. has to tell us, through its honorary 

 secretary, concerning the possibility of increasing all 

 sections of the electrical industries, and of developing 

 a more general, more efficient as well as a cheaper power 

 supply, both on this side as well as in other portions of 

 the Empire, is undoubtedly correct and should receive 

 the closest attention on the part of the public. We must, 

 however, see to it that those who undertake such schemes 

 are made responsible to the country through the House 

 of Commons for the success or failure of the work under- 

 taken by them. 



A far better system also is needed, both when obtaining, 

 as well as in the distribution of our fish supplies, not only 

 in this country but elsewhere as well. On p. 40 it will 

 be seen that I called attention to this want some years 

 ago, especially in connection with the fishing industries 

 of our West Indian Possessions, as well as with those 

 along the coast of Brazil. 



One day, perhaps, we shall have, not the Minister of 

 Production and W^heat Supplies, mentioned on p. 39, 

 but rather a Minister of Imperial Development (and I am 

 willing to admit that Mr. Wilson-Fox could fill such a 

 post with advantage and credit so long as he was held 

 in check by, and made responsible to, the House of 

 Commons), whose department will cover all these schemes, 

 and others still to come.^ Such a minister should enjoy 

 Cabinet rank and even be a member of the War Council, 

 since he would be responsible for the production of food- 

 stuffs, &c., needed to feed the troops, whilst at all times he 



' For instance, the cleaning and polishing of our rice crops, and also the 

 cutting and polishing of our diamonds within the Empire and not in 

 Holland and elsewhere outside. In Chapter XXI, p. 130, 1 also discussed 

 the cutting and grinding of lenses and optical goods generally within our 

 midst instead of going to Germans to do the work, either in Europe or in 

 America, which, to a German, is one and the same thing, especially for 

 the optical trade. 



