24 OCTOBER 1903, Page 26

India and Our Fiscal Policy. By Sir Roper Lethbridge. (Western

Morning News.)—Sir Roper Lethbridge is a con- vinced "Fair-trader," a term which probably stands to " Pro- tectionist " much as "Conservative" does to "Tory." He supports his doctrine by arguments drawn from the circum- stances of India. It is certainly hard on India that its largest export article, tea, is heavily taxed (75 per cent, ad valorem, says Sir Roper Lethbridge) ; but it is not an injustice; we must raise money for revenue. We cannot examine the arguments of the pamphlet in detail, but must add that they might be stated in more temperate language.