The Crushing of a British Industry

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The Crushing of a British Industry is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle published in The Times on 9 december 1921.


Crushing Industry

The Times (9 december 1921, p. 12)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writes under the heading, "The Crushing of a British Industry":—

I am a director of the Raphael Tuck Company, and as such have some inner knowledge of the picture post-card trade, which was originally developed in this country by their enterprise and energy. It employed a great number of people, both directly and indirectly. The ill-advised postal increases of Mr. Kellaway have reduced its volume to an extent which varies from 50 to 80 per cent. The result is that many a worker will have an unhappy Christmas who might have been comparatively well-to-do. The annoying part of it is that this sacrifice brings no possible good to the country, and that the postal receipts from this source are far lower than before. The thing is so indefensible that it must be altered, and no doubt the modified rates will be announced at the time of the Budget; but this delay will cause great unnecessary loss. If Mr. Kellaway is strong enough to admit that in this case he has made a miscalculation, and sets the matter right at once, he will benefit both individual interests and the national finance.