1 MARCH 1924, Page 2

There is every reason to hope that the moderate trade

recovery which seems to be on its way will not be impeded again by J.slianr trouble at the ports. There is, however, one matter to which not enough public attention has been called, though no doubt plenty of indignation has been privately expressed. We refer to the manner in which the dockers' pickets prevented the shipping of mails. The free transit of the mails ought to be considered as much outside the influences of a strike as is the circulation of food for the support of the community. The Government ought to have taken a firm line on this subject, and the nation would have thought much better of them if they had done so.