13 FEBRUARY 1926, Page 2

Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, the Minister of Labour, pointed out that

unemployment was now less than in 1924 and that wages had risen, not fallen. Then without any heat he argued that the whole problem was not one of political theory at all but of industrial facts. He welcomed a very striking appeal by Mr. Johnston, which had been made earlier in the debate, that all parties should co-operate for the reduction of unemploy- ment. * * * •