The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-20
BRITISH NEWS.
A Few Extracts From Long Letter By
Comrade Mahon.

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embittered by the depression in trade.
This last VISIT of ''bad times" is showing
some features that were not noticed in
former periods. The orthodox idea OF
trade cicles, that they occur every ten
years, bringing about three or four years
of depression, is now almost entirely dis
credited. This depression has lasted
nearly the biggest, instead of the small
est, part of the ten years, and as yet
shows no signs of passing away. Indeed,
far from revival coming there is every
appearance of the de preston deepening.
~ -
There is at the same time very little
effort being made by the capitalist press
or economists to explain this unusual
extension of the time of bad trade
There has been deal of grumbllng by
both political parties, but neither of them
seem inclined to attack the question
AS might be expected they have mutu'
ally agreed to ignore the matter as far as
possible. The late (conservative) gov
ernment has indeed appointed "roya
commission" to inquire into and report
on the means of reviving trade. The
commission is at work and may have
its report out before we have passed
through many more periods of depres
sion; and. when, if ever, the report doe:
appear it will show good reasons fol
another inquiry and the compiling o
another weekly blue b ook Beyond thi'
nothing can be expected from "roya
commission" The function of suct
bodies is to investigate matters abou
which the public mind is disturbed ant
to keep on investigating until the public
has forgotten all about the affair.
. ~
The steady decline in our foreign trad
is of the most vital importance to th'
realization of Socialism. AS long as ou
markets abroad continue to increase tn,
capitalist g system is fairlY(secure, in spit
of all the arguments and eloquenc'
which Socialists can hurl at it. But i
our trade abroad deserts US, the collaps
of capitalism in its present form is Ger
tainty. Nearly the whole of English
production is carried on for supplying
the wants(?) of other nations. Our owl
wants are scarcely worth the attention
of speculators. They are quite insignifi
cant when compared with the vastnes
of foreign demands-or shall it be bette
said, foreign gullibility
| fl ~
The iron trade in particular has suf
fered intensely. Our exports of finished
machinery have been decreasing at al
amazing rate for the past three or fou
years. The effect is being keenlv felt by
the workmen. Thousands of them arr
idle, and throughout all the Department.
of their trade strikes and rumors o
strikes is the order of the day. Tit
Amalgamated Engineers have felt thi
to an extent that is telling severely or
their financial resources. Their genera
secretary recently stated that the reserve
fund had to be encroached upon in spite
of the heavy levies put upon the mem
bers in addition to their regular subscrip
tions. AS this society is one of tht
strongest of the trades unions, this fac
is of the utmost importance as showing
that the number of the unem ployet
must have been very large for som,
time back. -
i, ~
The shipbuilding trade has been al
but stopped, Foreign competition hal
done a good deal, but the fact that ouI
mercantile fleet is far larger than ou
requirements is of chief Importance. II
seems as if such an obvious occurrenc,
as the overproductlon of ships hat
never been anticipated. Now it has come
about and the sufferers are the grea
masses of people who have been concen
trated at the shipbuildIng towns and are
now practically without chance of find
ing masters. In Glasgow 80, 900 workers
are in the streets, and in nearly all ou
large centers of industry il has been
found necessary to start works to relieve
the starving. J. i. MAHoN.
/ TT am in recaint of O lanuthy lot tor fro,
Comrade Mahon, Of which the above ii
an extract. The remainder will appear
next week.-ED. ENQUIRER.
For Sale at sacrifice.