TARIFFS DO NOT AFFECT THE PRICE OF BREAD 153 



state of affairs ; in which case they are obviously not fit to be 

 teachers and leaders. 



That German trade has enormously expanded since she 

 adopted her system of Tariff, and that prosperity has attended 

 her, none can doubt. That she has become very wealthy, and 

 that her wealth is collective rather than individual — as with 

 us — is proved by the fact of the colossal sums to the credit of 

 her working-classes in the State Savings Banks, while the lack 

 of pauperism and the general prosperity of the masses offer 

 additional proof that her ring of tariffs that are hostile to this 

 country, as to all the world besides, have not killed industries, 

 impoverished the people, nor — raised the p'ice of bread. 



" Bismarck was indeed a great man. He made Germany," 

 said Mr. Lloyd-George just after his visit to Germany ; and tliis 

 spontaneous note of admiration was not merely a tribute of 

 honest praise for the German Old Age Pensions system, which 

 he regarded as — 



" The most wonderful piece of organisation that I have ever 

 witnessed," 



but to many other things which he found working well in 

 Germany as a result of Bismarck's far-seeing statesman-like 

 policy of years ago. 



The following extract from the Gainsborough Commission 

 Eeport may be read with interest at this point : — 



" AVe have been just three weeks in Germany, and have seen the 

 German workmen at work and at play. In the busy districts of 

 Rhineland and Westphalia we came into contact with thousands of 

 our German comrades engaged in the heavy industry, and looked in 

 vain for the signs of poverty which certain persons in Gainsborough 

 and elsewhere told us would confront us on all sides. Despite the 

 prevailing dearness of meat, which is seriously affecting all classes in 

 the German Fatherland, and consequently all those whose incomes 

 are limited, including the incomes of the working people, whose 

 budget for household expenses is necessarily quite specially affected 

 at this time of year, nothing indicative in the remotest degree of 

 widespread distress has come within the limit of our vision ; on the 

 contrary, there is every sign of increasing prosperity. Occupation is 

 to be had everywhere for the asking of it, in all factories and at all 

 works in the towns we have passed through ; the building trade is 

 everywhere in a fair condition, and even in the ranks of the 

 unskilled, who must always be subject to fluctuations as regards 

 employment, there is no general cause for complaint. Instead of 

 there being a superabundance of workers and consequently a crowd 

 of ' unemployed,' employers are clamouring on all sides for skilled 

 labour." 



