AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:] SIR,—People in general have a vague idea that it is the land, (an unknown quantity to them) or the landlords that are being taxed at present, when in reality it is the food of the people,—the thing it is so impossible to tax if grown on soil other than British. If it is so impossible in the interests- of the people to tax foreign grown grain or farm produce, it should be still more impossible to tax home grown. The product pays all taxes presumably levied on land—let us. be honest, do not let us prevaricate—tax the product and then we shall be speaking the truth. I have not the slightest desire for Protection, but I want to start level, no handicap. Let us have genuine all-round Free-trade, not the fallacy for such which exists at present. The case is as simple as the day, and what is going on now is such a gross injustice to the British producer and the public at large, that I trust it will be at once taken up and exposed by you with all the warmth and persistency it so well deserves. It only requires looking at straight to see the absurdity of the present state of matters. Direct taxation,—tax our products and our British farmers will pay cheerfully. My father, the late George Hope, Fenton Barns, helped with all his might to re- peal the cruel duties levied on foreign grain ; his son desires to help in freeing what is grown on British soil. It should be as easy to tax all our products—grain, sheep, cattle, horses, potatoes, everything which is produced, and has money value- --as to tax the farmer 10s. for using a gun to scare the crows off his crops, 7s. 6d. for each terrier be keeps to kill the rats on his farm, 15s. for his two-wheeled trap, 22 for his family four-wheeler, and £1 for the groom he requires to keep. At five or seven miles from railway stations there is no possible method of transit except keeping a driving horse and con- veyances.—I am, Sir, &c., Sunwick, Berwickshire, August 21st. A. PE TERICIN HOPE.
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