SOME OTHER REMEDIES 207 



It may therefore be fairly held that the 

 imposition of tariffs on agricultural imports 

 is at present regarded by a considerable 

 minority of our British electors as a measure 

 of real value to the country in general and 

 our rural districts in particular. However 

 fantastic this opinion may appear to Free 

 Traders the stern fact remains that it is well 

 within the bounds of probability that some 

 future general election may result in a Parlia- 

 mentary majority pledged to a policy of food 

 taxes, and able to pass protective legislation 

 rapidly through the favourable co-operation 

 of the House of Lords. 



It is necessary therefore to include the 

 policy of Tariff Reform amongst the serious 

 proposals which have been made for benefiting 

 and improving the conditions of rural life in 

 England, though within the limits of this 

 little volume this quaestio vexata can receive 

 only the most cursory and general treatment. 



It is as futile for the Tariff Reformer to 

 deny that taxes on meat and corn are " food 

 taxes " designed to raise the price of these 

 articles in the home market as it would be 

 for the Free Trader to say that duties on 



excepted), and 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, ad valorem 

 on other agricultural produce (the " preference " on all 

 to be arranged by negotiations with the Colonies). 



