200 OUR ENGLISH LAND MUDDLE. 



question will lead to the conclusion that, arguing 

 from ascertained principles, it is possible for 

 any country with a fair range of natural re- 

 sources to encourage its agricultural industry 

 without raising the cost of living ; and, arguing 

 from practical experience, it is certain that 

 many countries do so. It has to be admitted 

 that Great Britain is in a singularly unfavour- 

 able position, because of the low state into 

 which her agricultural industries have been 

 allowed to sink ; and that will make the fram- 

 ing of an agricultural tariff, which will not be 

 burdensome to the general community, very 

 difficult, and compel a very cautious application. 

 But the problem of securing some agricultural 

 protection without raising the cost of living in 

 Great Britain is simplified by the existence now 

 of very heavy taxes on common articles of 

 consumption, such as tea and dried fruits. 

 Reduction or abolition of these, accompanying 

 a cautious tariff on certain agricultural prod- 

 ucts of local production, could actually decrease 

 the " food taxation," even if some of the new 

 tariff imposts caused increases in prices. But 

 such increases are not inevitable. 



