Mr. Montagu received a deputation from the Lancashire cotton trade
on Wednesday, March 23rd, in regard to the increased Indian cotton duty. Lancashire objects to the imposition of a duty of 11 per cent. on its goods while the competing Indian cottons only pay an excise of 3} per cent. Mr. Montagu pointed out that the Indian Government, having to meet a deficit of £18,000,000, were compelled to raise the general tariff, including many articles besides cotton goods. He could not veto their whole Budget, nor could he veto a part of it. If he had asked the Indian Government to propose an excise on Indian cottons equivalent to the duty on foreign cottons, the Legislative Assembly would have rejected it. We comment on the question elsewhere.