An Object Lesson in Protection.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

An Object Lesson in Protection.

, . An interesting collection of leaflets has been issued by the South African Political Association, on the dear food scandal at the Cape. The story which is told in these papers (says the Westminster) is a striking object-lesson in the folly of protection. One of the great arguments with whioh the Colonial Parliament was persuaded to raise the import duty on flour was ' Protect the Farmer and there will be no need to import Wheat.' Is it necessary to say that an analysis of the statistics 1874-95 shows (1) that the inorease of duty has not had the effeot of reducing the importation of wheat; (2) that the Cape is no more self-supporting now than twenty years ago ; and (3) that the Cape wheat supply fluctuates merely according to the rainfall P The ' necessaries of life ' consumed within the South African Customs Union may be roughly given as wheat, flour, tea, sugar, coffee, butter, cheese, rice, jams, preserved meats, candles, matches, bacon, paraffin oil, dates, currants, raisins, and figs, of a total value of £1,085,740. The duty collected thereon is actually at the rate of 46 per cent. ; in other words, the £1,085,740 paid toll to the amount of £499,446. The Association estimates that a workingman who earns £2 a week and supports a wife and three children spends no less than 17s 9d a week in duty. It cannot be said in excuse for the oppressive duties that there are no other sources from which to draw a revenue. There are several sources, one being an excise on spirits and beer. In Great Britain the taxes on beer, wines, spirits, and tobacco pay 53 per cent, of the total taxation revenue. Iv 1894, in Cape Colony, of the total revenue raised by taxation not 9 per cent, was received from taxes on spirits, beer, wine, tobacco, and cigars. On the other hand, breadstuffs, tea, sugar, coffee, butter, cheese, rice, candles, and paraffin paid £422,868 in taxes, or 21 per cent, of the total. 'The consequenoo is that brandy, wine, beer, and tobacco are amongst the cheapest articles of consumption in Cape Colony, while on the other hand it iB one of the dearest countries in whioh to live. 1