21 JUNE 1935, Page 3

The debates on the committee stage of the Finance Bill

have been curiously " dead." In the days before the War they afforded the greatest liveliness of the summer session. They continued over many weeks, there were all night sittings. and frequent " scenes." But that was when the Budget was recognized as the most appropriate machinery for the introduction of highly controversial social reforms. Now they are introduced by other methods, and in any case arc less controversial.