18 JANUARY 1902, Page 22

Protection. By a "Manufacturer." (Eyre and Spottiswoode. 3s. 6d.)—The author

pleads for the substitution of Protection for Free-trade. We shall not attempt to answer him, but we may put one fact before him. When wheat was protected and stood, say, at Gas. per quarter, the agricultural labourer received las. a week in wages, and had to spend at least two-thirds of this sum in bread; now he gets 12s., and gets his bread for less than one- third. If he votes for Mr. Byug's policy, and goes back to the old system, even allowing that his wages keep up, will he be better off or worse ? Any idea that the farmer will double or even increase his labourers' wages by a penny because he doubles the prices of his produce is the idlest of fancies.