DEMAND FOR FLAX. 



237 



the sum of 435. per cvvt. At all events, I never sold any, even 

 for the coarsest purposes, for so little money as 43^. per cwt. 



As a protectionist myself, I assert that the unprofitable price 

 of wheat, and the profitable price of flax to the British grower, 

 are, at the present time, both occasioned by importation. This 

 apparent anomaly may be easily explained. 



It will be seen that the arguments of the above article (if 

 they may be called such) resolve themselves into the two fol- 

 lowing questions : — 



1st. How can the English grower afford to sell flax for the 

 same price at which the foreigner imports it free of duty, at less 

 cost for labour, and unburdened by a national debt^ poor, high- 

 way, and county rates ? 



2nd. Why cannot the English grower afford to sell wheat 

 for the same price at which the foreigner imports it free of 

 duty? 



I answer, that the quantity of flax grown in this country is 

 so much beneath the demand, that the foreign farmer or specu- 

 lator, knowing our necessities, is able to charge so high a price 

 that the British grower can readily accept the terms, although 

 burdened with all those disadvantages from which the foreigner 

 is exempt. 



Formerly, the superiority preponderated in favour of British 

 flax ; but, during the war, Government removed the restrictive 

 duties. The foreigner then quickly inundated us with flax, 

 obtained the ascendancy, exercised ever after an arbitrary con- 

 trol over the flax-market, and compelled our manufacturers to 

 pay for the raw material, not "about 43^. only," but about 

 1405. per cwt.; or, instead of 43/. per ton, 140/.: while the 

 Belgian farmers, in particular, realized from 30/. to 50/. per 

 acre for what they significantly term their '^golden crop." A 

 serious warning of what may be expected when the duty on 

 foreign wheat shall be a penny per quarter ! ! 



It will now appear evident to the most common understand- 

 ing, that, should we become as dependent upon foreign nations 

 for bread as we now are for flax, hinglish wheat must inevitably 

 share the fate of English flax. Land would be thrown out of 

 cultivation ; the foreigner obtain the command of price ; and 



