Natural Trade

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page I (Supplement)

Natural Trade

"The natural design seems, therefore, to make international trade an absolute necessity. In the words of Cowper:— " ‘Ami if a boundless plenty lie the robe, Trade is the golden girdle of the globe, Wise to promote whatever end He means, God opens fruitful Nature's various scenes. Each climate needs what other climes produce And offers something to the general use.’ "Protection thwarts the designs of Nature by impeding the distribution of the fruits of the earth’s bounty, by creating artificial dearness, and by causing a diminution of production. Tims it is a destructive force, which tends to neutralise the progress of science and art. and improvements in tiie means of transport. “There may be some who fear that, if all trade restrictions were removed, there would be a surplus of production and chaotic conditions would result. When one realises the impoverished and almost primitive conditions of the mass of mankind, one must acknowledge that at least there is no immediate danger of over-production. But indeed this fear is entirely groundless, for, if all restrictions were removed, equilibrium of supply and demand would be achieved through the natural medium of the price level; and the free exchange of surplus products is the only effective safeguard against famines and gluts.”-—Mr. C. J. L. .Brock in a booklet, “The Moral Case for Free Trade.”