We note with no little satisfaction that the feeling against
Mr. Chamberlain's proposals for taxing the food of the people is increasing every day. For example, the Daily Mail in its issue of Thursday dealt with the subject in the following words :—" Sir Michael Hicks Beach and his friends will have no difficulty in demolishing the absurd argument that taxed food will bring higher wages. It will do nothing of the kind ; it will take something out of everybody's pocket, and the only men in England who will gain will be the landlords. Mr. Chamberlain himself admitted that four-fifths of food-taxes are paid by the working classes. If proof were wanted of the fact that a duty on corn must be paid by the consumer it is provided in a statement by the Board of Trade published yesterday. In France a tax of 12a. 2d. is imposed on wheat, and the price is 40s. 80., as compared with 27s. 6d. in England. The difference is just the amount of the tax and one shilling more. Nobody can say that the 13s. 24d. does not come out of the pockets of the bread-eater, or that he would pay as much if there were no tax. Along with taxes on foreign food we should have to pay higher prices for all Colonial food and home-grown food, and that is a burden the country cannot and will not bear." This frank opposition to Mr. Chamber- lain's schemes will, we feel sure, meet with sympathy from the great audience which the Daily Mail addresses, and we are delighted at such an indication of the soundness of public opinion on the essential point in Mr. Chamberlain's scheme. We regret to say, however, that the Daily Mail goes on to advo- cate taxes on foreign' manufactured goods. To impose such taxes would, in our opinion, be a great disaster, but nothing like as great as the taxation of food. The first thing is to Protect the food of the people from taxation.
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