CHEAP FOOD

Evening Star, Issue 14966, 28 August 1912, Page 7

CHEAP FOOD

One of vhn features of 1911 in the “ protected ” countries all over the globe, it will lie remembered, was a long and emphatic sori-fes of protests against the high and rising price of the necessaries of life. In every town of importance in Germany demonstrations wore held, and the result of tho 'Reichstag election was very largely influenced by dear food, which pressed so heayily on the working classes. In France dear- food riots took place, and in several insUinc-es the municipalities had to come to thp assistance of the people, and make arrangements for cheaper bread and meat. In] Austria the Government were compelled to open its frontiers to foreign meat. ~ Spain suffered acutely. The anti-tariff Jwavo in the United States gained consider able force, owing mainly to the high emit of living, and there, too, the effect was clearly seen in the elections. The revolt against Protection was, in short, world-wjide. How did Freetrad© England fare in 1911, when the ivst of the world was experiencing that particular result of tariffs?,' The agricultural statistics for 1911, published to-day, supply tha answer, and most interesting it is. The average price lof the 41b loaf was one farthing lower! than in 1910. Tho prices of all classes rpf meat were not so high in 1911 as in 191[0. Having no Protectionist tariffs to pay a the people of this country were in an immensely better position than were those Hiring under Protection. The information chines at an opportune time, for at the present moment tho Unionists are endeavoriW to galvanise new life into their tariff ejampaign. But all they can do will not afet r ]d of the fact that tariff* mean dear fc|»od, and that Free trade means the cheapest 1 ! possible.—‘ DaDy Chronicle.’