. John Bull's open door: a plea for it to be shut. fferent ways, first—if a similar five hundred taxicabs wereagain (as they are likely to be) made abroad, an import duty offifteen thousand pounds would be received, and consequently if theimposition of such duty were to be anticipated, the foreign manu-facturers would, I think, hasten to build, organise and develop aBritish factory in our midst which would undertake the manufacture. If so fortunate an event were to take place, it is opento me to ask you secondly, to consider the position of themechanics, artisans and working men generally in r
. John Bull's open door: a plea for it to be shut. fferent ways, first—if a similar five hundred taxicabs wereagain (as they are likely to be) made abroad, an import duty offifteen thousand pounds would be received, and consequently if theimposition of such duty were to be anticipated, the foreign manu-facturers would, I think, hasten to build, organise and develop aBritish factory in our midst which would undertake the manufacture. If so fortunate an event were to take place, it is opento me to ask you secondly, to consider the position of themechanics, artisans and working men generally in regard tosuch magnificent business as this if it could be obtained anddeveloped in this country. It is pretty well known by all works managers and ownersof manufactories, no matter of what article, that the majorportion of the money expended on the production of such workis distributed in the form of payment for the labour is quite probable that these five hundred taxicabs wouldfurnish not less than a hundred pounds each of labour in. A PLEA FOR IT TO BE SHUT. 77 many shapes and forms. Thus the position is likely to be,under Tariff Reform, that on such an order as five hundredtaxicabs, if secured to a British factory, the disposal of moneywould be as follows .— Payment for labour required £50,000 Materials for 500 cabs, managing expenses, wear and tear, rent and upkeep of factory £50,000 Interest on capital, proportion of insurance,discounts, depreciation of plant and con-tingencies £50,000 And please do not forget to notice that a matter of a shilling inthe pound would be paid on the nett profit on this transaction to JohnBulls revenue. Is it not worth while to risk the experiment ofTariff Reform which would secure an immense volume of businesssuch as this, whether it be in the form of construction of taxicabs ormanufactures of any kind ? Before leaving this particular innovation of the taxicabs intothis country, I think it only right that a thought should be
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