The Board of Trade Committee which, at the -instance of
Lord Derby, was desired to hear the Lancashire cotton trade's protest against the duty on fabric gloves, reported on Monday in favour of the duty-. The Coalition Liberals, in great pertur- bation,. approached the Prime Minister on Tuesday, and asked that the House might to left free to vote on this issue, as it was in the case of the cattle embargo. According to the Daily Chronicle the Prime Minister refused, on the ground " that in the Coalition there must be give and take, and that the Con- _ servative wing had gone to considerable lengths in supporting Liberal measures." Thus the Coalition Liberals, including their Whip, are required to vote next Monday for a peculiarly bad and foolish example of Protection, though they are almost all strong Free Traders. The Lanoashire Coalition members of both sections are ordered to support a duty which may do infinite harm to the cotton industry: Probably the Government will get their majority, but the Coalition Liberals will pay the price at the next election.
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