The Opposition is developing successfully a new line of attack
on the Government's various schemes for saving such industries as are in difficulties. It is not too easy to say, of one industry after another, that it shall not be saved. But, as Sir Arthur Salter pointed out a fortnight ago in a masterly speech on the concessions made to coal-owners, the price of State assistance must be some guarantee of public service. Following this line, Mr. Wedgwood Bean asked whether the industries favoured by the orders had given any assurances about wages and conditions. Captain Wallace defended himself adequately, on the lines that tariffs had never been thought to make any difference to the machinery of collective bargaining plus wage boards ; but a number of Labour back-benchers, who had not previously appeared to be interested in Free Trade as such, joined in the hunt ; and the Government ought very seriously to consider its whole philosophy in relation to those industries in which it interferes to modify what would be the natural consequences on uncontrolled private enterprise.
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