At a meeting of the Central and Associated Chambers of
Agriculture in London on Tuesday speeches were delivered by Mr. Rider Haggard and Mr. Chaplin. Mr. Haggard de- clared that if the Government programme were passed, the effect on agriculture must be something very near ruin. The competition of English agriculture with the foreign producer would be intensified, and the foreigner would make British food-stuffs the first object of his retaliation. He urged agricul- turists to refuse to accept any scheme but Mr. Chamberlain's. Mr. Chaplin, who followed, agreed with Mr. Rider Haggard, though he seemed inclined to take a more lenient view of the Government scheme, as something advanced for strategic purposes, and not to be discussed on the merits. These speeches seem to us highly significant of what we shall have to expect if Mr. Chamberlain should win. The agricultural industry looks to benefit; so does every other industry ; and there will be a wild scramble by each interest to secure its own advantage. Mr. Chamberlain has declared that no sacrifice is to be re- quired of anybody. We may be sure that his followers will hold him strictly to his word.
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