18 DECEMBER 1920, Page 3

The Ministry of Health Bill, after being severely criticized and

much curtailed in the House of Commons, was rejected on Tuesday by the House of Lords, on the motion of Lord Strachie. The Bill, like all Dr. Addison's measures, was badly drafted and sanctioned an incalculable amount of new expendi- ture, to some of which-for larger subsidies to private builders —the Government are already committed. The House of Lords naturally resented having such a large and complex Bill sent up to them on the eve of the holidays, but they have done a public service by throwing it out. It was high time to check the reckless extravagance of the Ministry of Health, which has inherited all the old failings of the Local Government Board and added to them.