The chief subject of discussion in the House of Commons
on Wednesday, April 12th, before the House rose for a fortnight, was the Safeguarding of Industries Aot. Mr. Asquith made the best speech which has been heard from him for some time. With many humorous illustrations and reflections he exposed the farcical or detrimental working, of the. Act. No doubt manu- facturers whose particular products are protected support the Act, but Mr. Asquith had no difficulty in proving that it has spread. over a largo part of our trade an atmosphere of uncertainty. This is very bad from the point of view of reviving industry. Uncertainty is much the same thing as want of confidence. It seems that duties are being levied' not only upon articles which have been definitely put upon the protected list, but upon articles of which it can plausibly be said that they ought• to be on the list.
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