TOM HUGHES ON THE FISCAL QUESTION. [To THE EDITOR OP
THE "SPECTATOR.") SIB,—Is not the enclosed extract from the late Tom Hughes's " Vacation Rambles " a propos just now ? It is part of a letter originally published in the Spectator, and written when
he was "westward ho !"—
‘. Amongst the Canadians, on the other hand, I did not happen upon a single Home-ruler,—in fact, was obliged to own to myself that they seemed to set more store by the unity of the Empire than we do in the as-yet-United Kingdom But what was really exercising them was the probability of a more intimate union or federation with the Mother-country. For defensive purposes, I was glad to find that they saw no difficulty whatever ; believed, indeed, that that question was already solved. But all felt that the really difficult problem was a commercial union, which, nevertheless, must be managed somehow, if the Empire is to hold together. On this there were wide differences of opinion, but, on the whole, a decided inclination to a plan which I will endeavour to put in a few words. It is that every portion of the Empire shall be free, as at present, to impose whatever tariff of Customs it might think best for raising its own revenue ; but an agreed discount (say, ten per cent.) should be allowed on all goods the manufacture or product of the Mother-country or any of its possessions. Inasmuch, it was argued, as such a plan would allow the free admission of all food and raw material, it ought not to hurt the Free-trade susceptibilities of England, while leaving the self-governing Colonies and India free to raise their own revenue as might suit their own views or circumstances. On the other hand, it would give an equal and moderate advantage to all subjects of the Empire. A similar advantage might also under this plan be given to importations made in ships belonging to any portion of the Empire. You, Sir, may very probably have heard
of and considered this plan, as I have been told that it, or one almost identical, has been submitted both to the London Chamber of Commerce, and to the Colonial Office, by Sir Alexander Galt I do not remember, however, to have ever seen it discussed in your columns, as I think it might be with advantage After the best consideration I can give it,' it does seem to me to be a solution which might go far to satisfy the scruples of all but fanatics of the buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market' gospel."
This was written in October, 1887.—I am, Sir, &c.,
G. B. P.
[The scheme sketched by our late greatly valued con- tributor had, as he pointed out, the great advantage of requiring no sacrifice of the fiscal principles prevailing from time to time in any quarter of the Empire. It only required a discount, or reduction, in Custom-duties to be made in favour of goods of British origin when such duties existed. It did not require any imposition of them when they did not
exist. Herein, of course, it differed essentially from Mr. Chamberlain's scheme.—En. Spectator.]
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