Protection 



scale preference means a tariff on imported food- 

 stuffs of such a figure as will allow our farmers to 

 grow these articles at a living profit, but no more. 

 When potatoes make from 40s. to 50s. per ton they 

 pay the grower a reasonable profit year by year. If 

 this price could be assured, then both farmer and 

 consumer would benefit, the farmer by an assur- 

 ance of a steady living profit, and the consumer by 

 the provision of potatoes at a reasonable price. We 

 do not wish the consumer to pay more, we simply 

 prefer a regular figure. Sometimes the consumer 

 pays ^5 a ton, sometimes 30s. (I refer throughout 

 to the prices received by the grower on the farm). 

 On the average the price is what we wish, without 

 these fluctuations. But Germany is a gigantic 

 grower of potatoes, and when she has a great yield 

 her surplus (which, being perishable, must be 

 used) comes here at cut-throat prices, when our 

 growers cannot make a profit at all. The loss to the 

 farmer and the nation is not compensated by 

 potatoes 5s. a ton too cheap. 



On the other hand," says the Free Trader, 

 free imports prevent our potatoes going up to 

 £10 per ton at times, and that counter-balances 

 for the nation." But if there was a sliding tariff 

 on foreign potatoes sufficient to always bring them 

 up to, say, 45s., that would ensure a reasonable pro- 

 fit for us and would cost the consumer nothing. (I 



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