656 REPORT—1904. 
which has given rise to the opinion that the family is ceasing to be an important 
group in the community. This opinion, however, neglects the other side of the 
function of the family, that, namely, of regulating the quantity and determining 
the quality of the population. The intimate relations of family life are rightly 
regarded as being on a higher plane than what are ordinarily regarded as mere 
economic motives ; nevertheless their importance from an economic point of view 
is quite inestimable. This importance may be considered under two headings: 
(i.) the family as a nursery for the best quality of human life compared with other 
possible institutions; (ii.) the family as maximising the economic strength of a 
people by grouping together those of different ages and capacities. 
2. Colton-growing in the Empire. By J. A. Hurron. 
It is evident that during the last four years the consumption of cotton has 
been rapidly overtaking production, and at the present time many mills in 
England, the United States, and the Continent are running short time, entail- 
ing privations on the operatives and a wastage of employers’ capital. 
‘Two principal causes have contributed to this shortage. The frst is a waat of 
elasticity in the American crop, which amounted to 11} million bales in 1898, 
since which date it has averaged 104 million bales. The second cause is the large 
increase in the world’s consumption, viz., about 400,000 to 500,000 bales per 
annum. 
Although short time has been worked all over the world, the English spinners 
have suffered most. A certain amount of short time was worked in 1901 and 
1902. In 1903 most of the Lancashire mills worked forty hours instead of fifty- 
five and a half for four months. In 1904 forty hours was worked from January 
to August with the exception of a few weelis, when the time was extended to 
forty-eight hours. 
The crisis has been aggravated by the manipulations of speculators, who forced 
cotton up from 53d. to 9d. a pound. These manipulations have been accompanied 
by violent fluctuations, which have made legitimate business exceedingly difficult, 
if not impossible. 
The principal remedy adopted so far is short time. It is not generally realised 
what a very costly remedy this is. The operatives suffer severely through 
decreased wages, the manufacturers’ expenses are nearly as large, and in only a 
moderately sized mill running short time would make a difference of 100/. a week, 
or 5,000. per annum. The kindred trades, such as dyers, printers, finishers, and 
distribution, must also suffer. There is also a decreased demand for the pro- 
ductions of other trades less closely connected. The receipts of the Lancashire 
and Yorkshire Railway Company for the first six months of 1904 show a falling 
off of 44,000/. as compared with 1903, and 70,0007. as compared with 1902. In 
fact, the result is widespread throughout the country. It is estimated that no less 
than 10,000,000 people are more or less dependent on the cotton trade. Mr. C. W. 
Macara estimates the loss to capital and labour in the cotton and allied trades 
through short time at 150,000/. per week. 
There is no great bope of immediate relief. The evil would be mitigated if 
the market were free from the manipulations of speculators. Legislative measures 
have been suggested, but would be difficult to devise without doing more harm 
tian good. Owing to labour and other difficulties there is little probability of 
the American crop increasing to over 12 million bales in the immediate future, so 
that large sources of supply must be found in other parts of the world to meet 
the normal increase in demand, estimated at 400,000 bales per annum. The 
solution of this problem is the raison d’étre of the British Cotton-growing Asso- 
ciation and similar bodies in France, Germany, and elsewhere. : 
The British Cotton-growing Association was inaugurated on June 12, 1902. 
A large amount of experimental work has been carried on, and it has now been 
decided to utilise the results of these experiments and to extend the work ona 
commercial basis. 
