23 OCTOBER 1897, Page 16

THE SUGAR BOUNTIES.

[TO THE EDITOR or THE " SPFCTATOR.1

Sto,—In the Spectator of October 9th you Bay : "The one thing it is useless, if possible, to do is to tax the sugar we eat at home for Colonial benefit!' With regard to countervailing duties may I ask this question : "Has any community any moral right to expect to have any article for less than the legitimate cost of production ?" In these discussions it seems as though it were held by those who oppose such an import- duty as that suggested in this case that the money so raised would be merely taken from one portion of her Majesty's subjects and given to another ; whereas it would, of course, go to augment the public revenue, and ought to be used to lighten other burdens.—I am, Sir, &c.,