Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



I have endeavoured to describe in a few 

 words the main features, as they strike a mere 

 spectator, of this extraordinary system, which is 

 full of lessons for those who may discern them. 

 Its contentious details, which I have avoided, 

 are discussed with much acrimony in the local 

 press ; but so ingrained is the idea of State- 

 protection and State-regulation that the British 

 practice of letting business matters take their 

 natural course seems to be the last thing to 

 occur to any one. And perhaps as things are 

 it would puzzle even an administrator like 

 Lord Cromer to find a way out. A country 

 whose chief industry is based on a protective 

 duty of 300 per cent, naturally gets into a very 

 queer tangle economically. 



Exports being discouraged in this fashion, 

 and also to a less serious extent by the imposi- 

 tion of export duties, it is not to be expected 

 that the import trade should flourish. And it 

 is further checked by very high customs duties, 

 averaging, I believe, not far short of 100 per cent. 



Sydney Smith's " dying Englishman " would 

 not get off so cheaply here : " The dying 

 Englishman, pouring his medicine which has 

 paid seven per cent, into a spoon that has paid 



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