273 
is overdue. The sale of cotton seed on credit, similar to that 
instituted in Egypt, is strongly advocated for the purpose ot 
supplying the ryots with pure seed, and the licensing of 
ginning factories in some Provinces is advocated as a means 
of stopping the mixing of the seed of different varieties. 
Damping of ginned cotton should be made a penal offence. 
Although Lancashire does not use large quantities of Indian 
cotton, two important advantages arise for the British Cotton 
Industry from an extension and improvement of cotton 
growing in India, viz., every additional bale of Indian cotton 
liberates a bale of American cotton and increases the pur- 
chasing power of the Indian cultivator, who is Lancashire’s 
best customer. 
[ Discussron. ] 
The Earl of Dersy (President of the British Cotton Growing 
Association): Gentlemen—I should like first of all to con- 
gratulate Mr. Schmidt very sincerely on the paper he has 
read before you to-day, which is one of the greatest fgossible 
interest; and to no people is it of more interest than to those 
of the county from which I come, Lancashire. I can only 
speak, of course, as a layman, and in an honorary capacity 
as President of the British Cotton Growing Association. 
But I have through that Association been brought much 
into contact with those who are interested in cotton, whether 
it is in growing or in manufacturing it, and I can assure 
Mr. Schmidt that we appreciate his paper very much. I 
should also like, on behalf of the Association, to congratulate 
the International Federation of Master Cotton Spinners’ and 
Manufacturers’ Associations on having followed our lead, 
which was a lead set not in my time, but in the time of my 
distinguished predecessor, Sir Alfred Jones, who, in a letter 
written to Lord Curzon—at that time, very nearly ten years 
ago, Viceroy of India—advocated very much what Mr. Schmidt 
advocates to-day. It would naturally be very wrong of me 
to enter into any discussion of the various points which Mr. 
Schmidt has raised. I agree with him in one thing—that this 
question of cotton growing is not to be looked at from a 
narrow point of view—it is of international importance. And 
it is from that point of view rather than from the point of view 
ef what I may call Lancashire policy that I heartily endorse 
what he has said. I cannot myself entirely subscribe to the 
conclusion that he arrives at with regard to the county of 
Lancashire; I am not quite so certain that the advantages 
which he says will accrue to Lancashire will accrue. But I 
need not go into that. I will only say that from the broader 
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