TARIFFS DO NOT AFFECT THE PRICE OF BREAD 147 



tariffs imposed by Germany and other foreisn countries, they will 

 come to the only possible conclusions, that it is necessary, for the 

 protection of the English workman, that the foreigners should pay 

 for the use of the Enjiflish market." 



■'o' 



Eeferring more especially to the price of bread, the Commis- 

 sion says — 



" A loaf of rye bread at Crefield, weighing four English pounds, 

 should cost 8^c/., or i-oughly ii^L 



"The 4-lb. wheaten loaf, eaten at Gainsborough, costs 4^(1. 



" All these details spell prosperity ; and even though we do not 

 go so far as to say they must be the direct result of the Imperial 

 policy of protection, we are justified in drawing attention to the fact 

 that this auspicious condition of tilings has been developing parallel 

 to protective tariffs. 



" It was pointed out by us in our last report that the prosperity 

 of the last twenty years of German industry has been running 

 parallel with protective duties. AYages have also risen ; and the 

 tendency of the day is that they will rise still higher. . . . 



" Where then does the extreme pressure on the German consumer 

 come in, in regard to the price of bread, as compared with the 

 English consumer ? We must note that Germany feeds nine-tenths 

 of her population from her own grain." 



What Tariff-reformers say 



Another effective way of answering this question is to see 

 what the Tariff-reformers have to say on the subject, because it 

 has been found of late, despite the efforts of their political 

 opponents, tliat these Ileformers have captured many a seat at 

 bye elections on their Tarilf-rcform ticket alone ; while it is 

 a matter of common knowledge that they have put so many 

 posers to their Free-trade antagonists in respect to the question 

 we are here considering, that their view of the x^osition should 

 be ignored — 



"O' 



" The prevailing price of bread in Berlin at the present time. 

 May, H)08, is b\d. per 4-lh. loaf. This is for the ordinary rye loaf 

 which is eaten by all classes, and which is composed of one-sixth rye 

 and five-sixths wheat." * 



" A loaf weighing 8 German pounds, good weight, was purchased 

 in the Frankfurterstrasse a few days ago for one mark. As one 

 German pound is equal to ly^th English pounds, and one mark is 

 equal to 11 '8 pence, this works out to almost exactly 5\d. for the 

 4-lb. loaf." t 



* Monthly Notes on Tariff Reform, IMay, 1908, p. 343. 



t Notes for Speakers. '"' Tariff Kofomi League," April 25, 1908, p. 2. 



