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PROTECTIONIST VICTORIES-FREE TRADE SUCCESSES 181
although all the economic conditions are present which
they plead as excusing such tariffs. We must no~ be sur-
prised, therefore, if some of the mischiefs of .. Protec-
tion" which theory and experience make us expect do
not make themselves much felt in the real modern
world. Even the most Protectionist country is far from
having unadulterated Protection.
We may go a little further. Protectionist countries,
even as regards their foreign tariffs, are far from giving
much Protection. They have mostly very extensive
lists of free imports. Half the imports into some of
them, I should say, are either admitted free of duty or
at very low rates of duty not calculated to be of a Pro-
tective character.
Again, of the remaining duties there are a large num-
ber that are really not Protective.
There is often some confusion on this head. A high
Customs tariff is often spoken of as if it were a Protec-
tive tariff. But this is a non se~uitur. A high Customs
tariff is usually a bad thing, apart from its Protective
effect. but we must not call it Protective unless there is
a home industry whose products escape the duties that
are charged on the like articles imported from abroad.
In this sense many of the duties imposed in so-called
Protectionist countries are not Protective at all. There
is no home industry in existence to be Protected. The
high duties are thus revenue duties. often bad duties
of their kind. but they are not Protective in the proper
sense of the word. .
I was greatly struck during a visit to Australia some
years ago by the ineffectiveness of the tariffs of the
Australian colonies, even those that were most Pro-
tectionist in their policy, for any purpose of Protec-
tion. because the industries to be protected did not
exist. The whole manufacturing population of a colony
like Victoria, with a total population of It millions, is
not more than 50,000 or 60,000, and a large part are
engaged in the manufacture of mineral waters and in
other manufactures, which would, in any case, be local,