There are signs that the House is becoming restive under
a policy of undiscriminating economy and of rigid taxation. A Conservative private member's motion on Wednesday called for a policy of encouraging local authorities to undertake revenue-producing works, and many of the rank and file are eager to try experiments in the use of that credit which has been so substantially restored. There is likely therefore to be a considerable extension of the attitude shown during the final stages of the Austrian Loan Bill on Tuesday, when a number of members protested that if there were any loaning to be done, it might well be begun at home. The question will arise, for example, on the Housing Bill ; for it is becoming increasingly clear that a large supply of the lowest-rented houses can hardly be forthcoming without an extension of the Government guarantee in respect of the loan capital required. It will arise with increasing force as the date of the Budget approaches. No doubt the Government will still be able to carry anything it likes through the House, but the temper of members has become uncertain. This is a more significant if less visible development than the departure of one Samuelite Liberal to the official Opposition or than Mr. Lloyd George's success in forming a Welsh Liberal Group. Mr. Lloyd George has managed that with great tactical skill, but he has rather poor material to work on. It is interesting to see him going back to the territorial basis upon which he made his first leap towards fame and which has been his real strength throughout his political career,
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