SAFEGUARDING WHOM? - The PROFITEER, or the WORKER - Labour's Answer to the Protectionists - CAPT.WEDGWOOD BENN, M.P.

Sep 21, 2026

A political pamphlet arguing that “Safeguarding” is an alternative label for protectionist policies such as protection, fair trade, and tariff reform. The text criticizes government use of advisory committees to screen tariff measures, describes tariff steps taken since 1924, and claims these duties impose heavy costs on domestic goods and especially on the purchasing power of working women. It contrasts Labour’s opposition with Liberal support for safeguarding, and argues that imports and exports are inseparable, warning that tariffs provoke retaliation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

SAFEGUARDING

WHOM?

LABOUR'S ANSWER TO THE PROTECTIONISTS.

“SAFEGUARDING” IS “PROTECTION.”

Tariffs disguised—but Tariffs still.

Tory Tariffs now in Operation.

Tory Tariffs Tax the Housewife.

Labour Opposes Tariff Taxes.

NO EXPORTS WITHOUT IMPORTS.

Tariffs Provoke Retaliation.

97-84067-28Benn,William Wedgwood Safeguarding whom?theprofiteer,or the worker London [1929] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGBAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ## ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia Universlity Libraries. RESTRICIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 3mmREDUCTION BATIO: 10:/ DATE FILMED: 12=/9 INITIALS: CM TRACKING\#: 23637 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. | SAFEGUARDING
Whom?
The PROFITEER,
or the WORKER
Labour's Answer to the
Protectionists
BY
CAPT.WEDGWOOD BENN,M.P.
Price 1d,post free,IAd.
Published by
THE LABOUR PARTY,
Transport House(South Block),Smith Square
London,S.W.I | | --- | 309Z 023 ## SAFEGUARDING WHOM? The Profiteer,or the Worker. ## LABOUR'S ANSWER TO THE PROTECTIONISTS. By CAPTAIN WEDGWOOD BENN,M.P. ## “SAFEGUARDING"IS“PROTECTION.” TT must never be forgotten that"Safeguarding"is merelyan alias of“Protection,"“Fair Trade,"and“TariffReform,"which have,each in turn,been convicted bylarge majorities of the Jury of the National Electorate.Sosatisfied was the Tariff Reform League that Safeguarding wasindeed Protection that it announced (Times,21st July,1923)that it would cease operations because“the principlesadvocated by the Tariff Reform League have received definiteexpression in the Legislation of the country." Quantity Prlces: 12 copies..9d.post free. 100,..6s.,carriage paid. Tariffs—by any other name. The fanciful name"Safeguarding"comes from Mr.LloydGeorge's Coalition vocabulary and was adopted by Mr.Baldwin in 1924.He had frankly advocated Tariffs in 1923and had been defeated at the polls.It was necessary then todisavow the offending word"protection,"but,as he said atCambridge,the party to which he belonged still had it aspart of their programme,but would attempt to meet modernconditions by the application of safeguarding.The Tory ChiefWhip was even more explicit and stated at Redditch that ifthe country would not take protecton all at once“they wowldhave to take it a bit at a time" Tariffs disguised—but Tariffs still. In accordance with the plan of disguising Tariffs the ToryParty announced the setting up of advisory committees toinvestigate claims for Import Duties.These Committees areneither appointed nor controlled by Parliament.Their termsof reference are a mere ipse dixit of the Cabinet and theProtectionist President of the Board of Trade.He may take 3 their advice or not as he pleases,or duties (as the case ofmotor tyres)may be imposed without any reference at all toan advisory committee. The only use,therefore,of these bodies is to screen thetariff designs of the Government,and to save the Ministerfrom the necessity of defending any duty on its merits.Whenin difficulty he merely refers to some selected portion of theReport of a Committee. Tory Tariffs now in Operation. Since their return to power in 1924,the Tory Party havemade the following steps in the direction of a General Tariff. 1.Continued for ten years the so-called“Key Industry”Duties covering now from 6,000 to 7,000 articles. 3.Reimposed the duties on:Clocks and Watches.Musical Instruments.Cinematograph Films,and Motor Cars and Cycles,which were abolishedby Mr.Snowdon in 1924. 3.Imposed new duties on:Commercial Motor Vehicles.Motor Tyres.Lace.Gas Mantles.Gloves.Cutlery.Wrapping Paper. AIl translucent tableware,including cups,saucers,&c.Buttons. Enamelled Hollowware,andArtificial Silk. Tory Tariffs Tax the Housewife. It will be noticed that these duties place heavy charges innearly every case on articles of domestic use.Women aretold that prices have not risen.In many cases this is not so,but i

FAQs

What does the pamphlet claim “Safeguarding” actually means?

It argues that “Safeguarding” is merely an alias for “Protection,” along with related tariff-reform ideas like “Fair Trade” and “Tariff Reform.”

How does the text criticize the use of advisory committees for import duties?

It claims the committees are neither appointed nor controlled by Parliament, their terms of reference are essentially a Cabinet and Board of Trade dictate, and their function is to screen tariff designs and reduce the need to defend duties on their merits.

Why does the pamphlet say tariffs are connected to exports and retaliation?

It states that foreign goods entering the country do so in payment for wages, material, and profits tied to exports, so “you can never ‘Safeguard’ an import without hitting an export.” It then gives examples meant to show that tariffs provoke retaliatory actions from other countries.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ava Thompson