THE DRAIN OF GOLD.

At the second weekly meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Inquiry into our Fiscal System, LordHalsburyjoined the Committee.

Mr.Manning, of East Ham, whose striking pamphlets,What We Really EatandNot by Bread Alone, have brought him well-deserved fame, was asked to join, but declined on the ground of party loyalty.

“Mr. Manning, of East Ham.”

TheDuke of Sutherland, who had also been invited to sit, had instructed his private secretary to write to the same effect, expressing an ardent sympathy with the objects of the Committee, but recalling the great part he had played in Liberal politics for many years, and pointing out that he could better serve the cause by remaining attached to a party which he hoped to leaven by his example and oratory.

Mr.Benjamin Kidd, the first witness, deposed on oath that hewas a philosopher. He begged leave to give his testimony in metaphysical language, as he could speak no other. After some consultation leave was granted, and the sworn interpreter at Scotland Yard was summoned by telephone.

“The Official Interpreter.”

Thus relieved, the witness swore that the synthesis of an agglomeration, real or imaginary—in plain words, of all thinkable congeries—was informed by an appreciation of its organic or inorganic character. He was far from saying that the organic and inorganic were separated by any hard and fast line, but he did maintain⸺

Mr.Chamberlain: I think that point is clear.

Mr.Benjamin Kidd, continuing, deposed that a political entity was emphatically of the former kind as to its consciousness. And without consciousness where were they? He then maintained it demonstrable beyond argument that all truisms, including altruism, lead to one central principle, namely, that in all inequalities differences appeared, for if they did not, then where were they? Applying this primordial and cosmic truth to the particular region of international exchange, he could but conclude thatall material incrementof resmercatoriæmust and did connote diminution ofeorundem facilitasand vice versâ.

The witness here sat down, and the interpreter, who had been taking notes, declared in a loud voice that Mr. Kidd’s speech meant, in English, that the excess of imports was paid for in gold. (Murmurs of applause.)

TheLord Chancellor(emphatically): I always said it!

Mr.Chamberlain(triumphantly to Mr. Balfour): What about Seddonnow?

Mr.Balfour(in some confusion): I never said anything against Seddon, besides which, who knows but what Kidd—

Here Mr. Kidd was observed to break down and sob bitterly; willing hands supported him to the Carlton, where first aid to the wounded was skilfully rendered by Doctor Sir Conan Doyle, V.C.... On recovering consciousness he attributed his agony to severance from the Great Liberal Party, of which he had so long beenthe most brilliant ornament. The distinguished physician, who had himself suffered such pangs, soothed him as best he could, and conveyed the news to the Committee, who were profoundly moved.

Mr.Chamberlain(solemnly): If this man dies, the Opposition will have a heavy weight upon its soul.

[The Committee here murmured their approval, and the Inquiry proceeded.]

Mr.Balfour: It is now our task, I think, to find by what issue the gold escapes, and to stop the leak.

Mr.Charles Griggs(expert) deposed: That such a gold export would require fifty-six vessels, each 500 ft. long by 45 broad with a draught of 27 ft.

Peter Garry(Private Detective in the pay of the Birmingham Caucus): “I have watched all the ports, and can swear that no such vessel, let alone fifty-six, has cleared with gold since July, 1902.”

In view of the difficulties raised by this witness, it was determined to call further testimony:

Peter Cale(porter) deposed to hauling great sacks of something hard and heavy on to the passenger boats at Dover last April. These sacks might very well have contained gold. Cross-examined: They might have contained almost anything else. They had no smell.

Martha Quinn(labourer’s wife) swore that she had often heardpeople, especially her husband’s master, say that a power of money went abroad to pay for foreign kickshaws. She herself had paid a considerable sum last year for Norwegian matches, American tobacco, German sausage, foreign tea, and all. Cross-examined as to where the tea came from, she said, after some hesitation, that she thought it came from Lipton.

Mr.Chamberlain(sternly): That is within this Empire.

Martha Quinn(curtseying) begged the pardon of the Court. She was ordered to stand down.

Mr.Thomas Hepton, draper, of Regent Street, W., swore that he sold in the past year some 50,000 or 60,000 cases of foreign woven stuffs, every one of which had to be paid for. The profit only remained in England.

Cross-examined: He did not himself pay for the goods in gold, but he gave a cheque upon his bankers, who doubtless sent the money abroad in packing cases, and all that went to the ⸺ foreigner.

LordLansdowne: Moderate your language.

Mr.Hepton: I am sorry, my lord, but if you had sent case after case of solid gold away to France week after week for ten years, you would feel as I do.

Mr.Haywoodof Bicester, Mr.Calmof Stroud, Mr.Merryof Lincoln, Mr.Bowseof Lichfield, Mr.Hopperof Lancaster, Mr.Grapeof Shrewsbury, &c., bank managers, swore that their business consisted almost wholly of handing out large masses of bullion daily to offensive people, many of whom had the appearance of foreigners.

“With the appearance of foreigners”

LordHalsbury: All this is hearsay evidence, and not worth the paper it is written on.

During a short altercation between the legal and non-legal members of the Committee, a person at the back of the room leapt to his feet and demanded to be heard. He was permitted to speak, and deposed:

That he had been gathering statistics in the employment of a politician whose name he must conceal.

Mr.Balfour: I am afraid we must have that name.

Witness: May I send it up on a piece of paper?

LordHalsbury: Is he a peer?

Witness: No, my lord.

LordHalsbury: Well, is he a person of importance?

Witness(eagerly): Oh! yes, my lord.

LordHalsbury(after consulting his colleagues): We do not think his name material. Proceed.

Witness(in an emphatic manner): The facts I have to produce are simple. They are well known. It is their meaning which has escaped the public. When the meaning is grasped it will amply account for our great annual loss of gold.

(Here the Committee betrayed an interest bordering on frenzy, leaning forward and fixing burning eyes on the witness, who continued:)

“The number of passenger tickets taken at the ports of this country is over 12 millions annually. (Sensation.) Ships’ crews (excluding coasters), fishermen running across to the continent, fugitive criminals, and King’s messengers bring the number up to 18 millions. (Sensation.) Not one of these 18 millions leaves without a sum of money ... many carry away immense sums ... our office can prove that the very clergy in their annual excursions will carry 20, 30, nay, 100 pounds a family. (Sensation.) How many return with any money at all? (Here the speaker made a dramatic pause.) ... I have little more to add. The total sum so lost by innumerable outlets amounts certainly to 200, possibly to 230, million pounds.England is a sieve.”

Witness here left the box, and the Committee rose in a state of seething excitement, several of the more commonplace members repeating mechanically, “A sieve!” “A regular sieve!” “Poor old England is a sieve!”

Mr. Chamberlain looked radiant in a black frock coat and top hat, with boots to match, and a flower of some kind in his buttonhole, while Mr. Balfour was quite cheerful and vivacious. As the Court rose the opinion was freely expressed that the day’s work has given the Cause a great lift forward.

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