204 PROTECTION TAXES ON FREE TRADE PRICES 



Protection and by increased taxation without commensurate 

 increase in value, lias fallen upon agricultural land, and it 

 is agricultural land alone that requires relief. As a curious 

 comment upon the existing crisis in England, it may be 

 noted that when, in 1884, the proposed protective duties 

 were referred to a French committee of deputies, an 

 amendment was moved and carried, remitting the wliole 

 of the Land Tax, except that portion which was assessed 

 on vineyards and building land ; but the Chamber and 

 the Senate preferred Protection. In England justice im- 

 peratively demands the remission of taxation on agricul- 

 tural land. Such a measure is due of right to agriculturists 

 as the necessary consequence of Free Trade ; it was pro- 

 mised in 1848 ; it is virtually conceded in every Treasury 

 subvention ; it is implied in the repeated answer that 

 landlords must wait for Local Government Reform ; it has 

 been accepted by several resolutions of the House of 

 Commons ; it has been recommended by recent commissions 

 on agriculture. 



In 1815 the rental of England and Wales was 

 36,000,000L; in 1878 it was 51,000,000?. But at least 

 35 or 40 per cent, reduction has been made in 1887. At 

 this moment rents are certainly no higher, possibly they are 

 lower than in 1815. Again, in 1815 foreign corn was ex- 

 cluded under 80s. a quarter, and the duty acted as an in- 

 come tax on the wages of consumers to enable producers 

 to bear the charges upon land. In 1887 there is no im- 

 port duty, and no tax paid by the community for the 

 benefit of the producer. Again, in 1815 agricultural land 

 paid an enormous proportion of poor, rate, because rate- 

 payers contributed to the farmer's labour bill; but in 1834 

 the Poor Law system was totally changed, and farmers now 

 pay wages from their own pockets. Are, then, local bur- 



