20 JUNE 1903, Page 2

Dealing with the alleged rise in wages that would follow

Mr. Chamberlain's scheme, Lord Goschen pointed out that the vast number of employes of the Government and of the municipalities could not hope to get their wages increased through preferential duties, though the purchasing power of their wages would be thereby reduced. The same thing would apply to all the smaller professional people, and to the lower middle class generally. Not only would there be no free breakfast-table, but every meal would be taxed in the hope of higher wages and old-age pensions. It was a gamble with the food of the people,—" a; gamble in which I trust the noble Duke will tell us he will not take a hand."