22 JANUARY 1960, Page 12

NEVER SO GOOD?

SIR,—Your editorial advice to the Labour Party to throw off the dead weight of nationalisation enlists my support, but .,you might have found a better precedent than the Conservatives' resort to free trade in 1846. So far from 'having no difficulty in restoring its old fortunes,' the Tory Party did not again enjoy a lengthy tenure of office until 1874; hence surely the poirit of Malmesbury's remark which you quote—that when protection went 'the party was lightened by a heavy spar—but that spar was its mainmast.'—Yours faithfully, [It is, of course, true that the Conservative Party took many years to recover from 1846; but the point is that it did recover—which it could not have done had it clung to Protection.—Editor, Spectator.]