18 NOVEMBER 1922, Page 3

The Ninety-second Quarterly Report of the General Federation of Trade

Unions states that the decline in the number of members is still causing anxiety, though possibly the defections are more apparent than real. Mr. W. A. Appleton, the wise and able secretary of the Federation—a man to whom Labour is under immense obligations, though many of the extremists seem to be unaware of it—draws interesting contrasts between employment in countries which have saved their cur- rencies and employment in countries where the currency has " gone smash." He urges that every possible step should be taken to rehabilitate the resources of stricken countries, whether they were our enemies or not. " Neither atrophied nations nor poverty-stricken peoples can buy things we have to sell. Whatever passion says on this subject should be overborne by reason." The financial position of the General Federation is better than anyone dared to hope a year ago. There is a reserve of £65,339.