Our correspondent "Leonia," whose letter on the possible imposition of
a tax on paper we publish in another column, is indignant at the idea of such a tax, and very naturally and properly, as he is a Free-trader. It seems to us, however, that those newspapers which advocate Protection ought to be willing to see a tax placed on imported paper not made in the Empire, and also to see a duty placed on wood-pulp and esparto grass not produced in the Colonies. Why should they not agree to try a fiscal experiment by taxing paper P After all, it is a very fitting commodity for such an experiment, as it is not essential to human existence to have cheap newspapers. If the experiment failed, as we believe it would, no great injury would be done; while if it succeeded, which the Protectionist Press is bound to assume it would, a great principle would have been established. Surely, then, if our contemporaries are in earnest they will not oppose such an experiment. Personally we hold that we should be seriously injured in pocket, but we believe the matter to be so intensely important that we should be prepared to stand the expense of providing so good an object-lesson. Even if it cost many thousands of pounds to Free-trade newspapers, the loss would be of service, as we believe it would exhibit the folly of Protec- tion. In all seriousness, therefore, we ask that if experi- ments are to be tried, they shall be tried first on paper and not on the food of the people. If the Protectionist newspapers refuse to be taxed while urging taxation on other industries, they cannot expect to be taken very seriously.
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