STATEMENT BY EXPERTS 183 



The speaker was in favour of reciprocal relations 

 with the United States, but more than Reciprocity 

 was needed. 



" We are in favour," he said, " of an increase to 50 

 per cent, in the British Preference, and in favour of 

 further increase from time to time until the duty on 

 British interests is entirely abolished." 



Mr. E. C. Drury, Secretary of the National 

 Council of Agriculture, advanced as an argument in 

 favour of fiscal changes, the decline in agricultural 

 interests — the farming community had decreased in 

 every Canadian Province east of Manitoba, and that 

 Protection was no longer needed to encourage infant 

 industry. He advocated British Preference, and 

 ultimate Free Trade with England. 



An argument on the effect of taxation upon 

 agricultural implements was advanced by Mr. R. 

 Mackenzie of the " Grain Growers' Guide." Agri- 

 cultural implements manufactured in Canada, accord- 

 ing to the last census, amounted to £2,^6^,14.^. Of 

 that amount £468,^6$ worth was exported. The 

 imports that year amounted to ;^3 18,962. "It is 

 now conceded," said Mr. Mackenzie, " that the 

 manufacturer adds to the selling price of his 

 commodity the total amount of the protection 

 granted him by the customs duty. The farmers of 

 Canada thus paid to the Government that year 

 £6^,7^6, and to the manufacturers of farming 

 implements ;^4 19,676. 



