The boomerang effect of a tariff was well illustrated in
the inquiry held last week by the Board of Trade Committee, under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, into the demand of the glove manufacturers for a. prohibitive duty on German fabric gloves. A Bolton cotton-spinner said that three-fourths of his yarn was sold to the German glovers ; if they could not import their gloves into England, they would oease to buy his yarn. Two expert witnesses from Manchester and London affirmed that the German gloves found a ready sale here, not because they were cheap, but because they were well cut and finished. This may or not be the case. Bat it is clear that the British glove manufacturers would•not be encouraged to improve their product if they were protected against their competitors. And it is certain that the Bolton cotton-spinners would lose trade if the Midland glove-makers had their way.
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