Mr. Austen Chamberlain advanced the old fallacy that by Tariff
Reform the nation would secure increased em- ployment. He did not believe that the old-age pensions scheme would result in any reduction of local taxation. Mr.
Lloyd George's contribution to the debate was strongly Free. trade as far as the words went, but we confess that a verbal defence of Free-trade by those who are in practice undermining Free-trade by vast expenditure leaves us somewhat cold. The Chancellor of the Exchequer ended by asking for a few more particulars from the Opposition. If they wanted to raise revenue by the means suggested by the Tariff Reformers, they must tax commodities which the people consume.
If they were going to broaden the basis of taxation, there were only one or two things left to tax,—notably wheat and meat. Was that what it was proposed to do in order to broaden the basis of taxation ?—a question lamely met by Mr. Balfour with the remark that it was irrelevant. At any rate, if the people's meat and bread and dairy produce were to be taxed, he thought they ought to be told of it. Here we find ourselves in complete agreement with Mr. Lloyd George.
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