16 DECEMBER 1938, Page 3

This week the House has listened to two excellent speeches

from Mr. Tom Johnston ; the first on the Reorganisation of Scottish Offices, and the second on his motion for the Nationalisation of the Land. He speaks with an authority which is rare on the Labour benches, and it is unfortunate both for his Party and for the House of Commons that he has decided to retire at the end of this Parliament. The Labour front bench is not so rich in talent that it can afford to lose men of his calibre. Among Scottish Labour Members he is indeed the only national figure. If we exclude the I.L.P.- there is no other Socialist representing a Scottish constituency whose name is known to the average elector from Orkney to the Border.