TARIFF REFORM.—A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:A
SIR,—Realising the importance of bringing together the Unionist Party on the question of Tariff Reform, may I venture to suggest the following solution ? The Free-traders strongly object to any form of Protection as regards the British Isles, but they might possibly be tempted to go as far as Free-trade within the Empire with a tariff to exclude foreigners. The difficulty that has hitherto existed is that the Empire is not at present self-supplying, although it could be made so. How would it do to arrange a fiscal system on the basis that Colonial preference should be given only to those imports which the Empire already supplies in sufficient quantities ? This would not affect, for instance, corn, since Canada cannot yet produce a sufficient supply ; but it would affect the many articles which the Empire can supply us with in abundance. It would not materially alter the position of these islands as regards Free-trade, and there would be no danger either of friction with any Colony or of sliding down what Lord Goschen termed the inclined plane, since the criterion would ' simply be whether a sufficient supply was forthcoming. There are a large number of Free-traders who would be willing to make some sacrifice for the Colonies, and although this scheme would not satisfy the Protectionists, both parties might be brought together on such a solution.— I am, Sir, &c., DICTUM BALSIIM FILMS IN PROXIMO.
[We admire the spirit of our correspondent's letter, but it is clear that even if Free-traders could agree to his proposition in the abstract, it would be scouted by the Tariff Reformers. The leaders of the last-named party have repeatedly declared that they do not ask for, and do not even desire, Free-trade
within the Empire, while the Colonial Protectionists have from the beginning denounced the idea as not merely inadmissible, but positively injurious. They frankly tell us that they must and will protect themselves from the influx of British goods at all costs. For example, Sir William Lyne told the Parliament of the Commonwealth that he regarded all importers as "parasites," and that he would get rid of them altogether if he could. Yet eighty per cent, of the goods which those parasites import are British. We would make sacrifices many and great for the Colonies, but it is no good to make sacrifices which they would regard as deadly injuries.—En. Spectator.]
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