A VERSALITE PARAGRAPH.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 14, 18 January 1910, Page 6

A VERSALITE PARAGRAPH.

A great many sound arguments I may be put forward in support of ] Tariff-Reform, but the most ardent supporter of the scheme will find a recent paragraph in the Morning Post highly amusing. The Post noticed that there had been a snowfall in Warwickshire, and proceeded to make reference to the fact in its column of political notes. "An indication of what the British farmer has sometimes to piit up with, in addition to Free Trade," it remarked, "is the news that in Warwickshire this week some grain crops not yet harvested on accoxmt of the wet summer and autumn have been covered with snow. Of course Tariff Reform will not prevent that sort of accident. It is only referred to so as to state —what is a truth—that on the whole the English soil and climate are very kind to agriculture ; and it is practically the fiscal system of the country alone that is responsible, for rural decay." The beauty of the paragraph, as one of the Liberal journals suggests, is.its adaptability." It can be used by either side with equal effect. A Free Trade supporter might have put forward •/soirJbthing iii the following form: "An indication of what the German workman has sometimes to put up with, in addition to Protection is the news' that in Berlin last week many trades were brought to a stand-still on account of the city being visited by a fall of snow. Of course Free Trade will not prevent that sort of accident. It is only referred to so as to state —what is a truth—that on the whole the situation and climate of Germany are very favorable to industry; and it is practically the fiscal system of the country alone that is responsible for the unemployed in Berlin numbering tens of thousands." In fact, the scope of the paragraph is almost unlimited. It might be used with a few alterations to support a State bank, freedom of contract, or the admission of women to Parliament.