THE LANCASHIRE CASE.

Mr. Baldwin explained that the guiding principle on which he had acted – for the Act gives him discretion to allow or disallow the recommendations of one of these Special Committees – was simply whether it would cause greater harm to industry as a whole if he allowed a protective duty on a special import than it would cause benefit to the trade in question.

He had not hesitated to give a verdict in favour of the fabric glove manufacturers, for he thought the Lancashire case was the weakest he had ever read. So did Mr. Bonar Law. Both are clearly of opinion that the Lancashire cotton spinners are unduly jumpy and apprehensive.