90 AGRICULTURE AND TARIFF REirORM. 



his " wanting " to " raise the cost of living." 

 And wliat Canada can do in the wheat (or bread) 

 line she can do in the meat and dairy produce 

 lines too. All such food is to come free. The 

 same proposal applies, also, to every one of our 

 Colonies and daughter States; and yet we are 

 asked to believe that food will be " dearer '' ! 



Mr. Chamberlain has himself said, on this 

 point, that there will not be any increase in the 

 cost of living. He has pledged his word to that 

 extent. He has gone further, and promised to 

 reduce the household bill for food and drink, so 

 that, if by any chance the duties imposed by us 

 on the foreigner were paid by the Britisher, he 

 would take off the Britisher more than any such 

 payment as that referred to. Such a statement 

 and such a pledge will carry no conviction to a 

 rabid political opponent; but it may be remem- 

 bered, that none amongst the ranks of those who 

 are so bitterly assailing that statesman have 

 shown a tithe of the successful interest in the 

 working-man, Avhether agricultural labourer or 

 artisan, that he has shov/n, and this dates from a 

 time even before he entered Parliament. 



An Honourable Parliamentary Eecord. 



It is well to look back on this matter for a 

 moment, when his honour almost is challenged, 

 and when his proposals are attacked in so unfair 

 and bitter a manner. It is not difficult to appeal 

 to facts. For example, it is now 15 or 16 

 years since the first general Allotments Act was 

 placed upon the Statute Book. That Act should 



