We cannot profess to be altogether sorry that the Bill
has passed through all its stages in the House of Commons, as it has given every onlooker an insight into the meaning of pro- tective legislation. The Bill is a subject of general ridicule. We are much interested to notice that it has been denounced by a non-political meeting of business men in Glasgow, and that the verdict of that meeting had been accepted by the Glasgow Herald. The Glasgow Herald was a stout supporter of Tariff Reform before the war. It takes the line now that this Bill has nothing to do with the issue of Free Trade and Protection, but it denounces it on its merits as unworkable. We believe that this is true. The operations of the Bill, when it becomes an Act, will be scarcely appreciable ; or if they are appreciable, the Government, following their usual practice, will repeal it.
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