140 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



en hloc from one of the Tariff-reform periodicals for August, 

 1908 :— 



" ' Free-trade ' and the Price op Bread 



" The fairy tale that Free-trade gave us the ' cheap loaf ' 

 continues to be so industriously circulated by our Neo-Cobdeuites, 

 that we make no apology for what may appear to some of our 

 readers very like ' flogging a dead horse ' in reproducing the 

 facts on the subject as set forth by Mr. Tom Neill, of Exeter, in 

 a recent letter to the Devon and Exeier Gazette (July 28). 



" ' Free-trade,' says Mr. Neill, ' did not give us cheap bread, or 

 even bread cheaper than it wns under Protection. The very fact 

 that the price of bread did not become cheaper, but was actually 

 dearer for over a quarter of a century after the adoption of ' Free- 

 trade ' than it was under the severe Protection of the 1842 Corn 

 Act, is conclusive proof that ' Free-trade ' did not make bread 

 cheap. 



" ' As this is so contrary to the current lielief engendered by the 

 persistent deception of the people by the ' Free-traders ' during the 

 last two generations, perhaps you will allow rae to prove what I say. 

 The following figures have been compiled from the Board of Trade 

 Returns : — 



Average Price of the 4-lb. Lo.if 

 Under Severe Protection. 



In London. In Edinburgh. ^o/^g^^bs.'' 

 Pence. Pence. Wheat 



1842-45—4 years .... 8-25 7-16 18s. Cxi. 



Under ' Free-trade.' 

 1849-75— 27 years .... 8-32 8-09 Free-trade 



Average Price of Wheat in Great Britain 

 Under Severe Protection. 



J)uty per qr. 



1842-45—4 years .... 52s. Aid. 18s. Cd. 



Under ' Free-trade.' 

 1849_75_27 years .... 52s. ^Id. Free-trade 



"'So that the 4-lb. loaf was the turn cheaper in London, and 

 almost a penny cheaper in Edinburgh, and wheat also was the turn 

 cheaper throughout Great Britain, during the last four years of the 

 Corn Laws than it was for seven and twenty years after the adoption 

 of ' Free-trade.' 



'* ' That bread did become cheaper in the 80's is quite true, but 



