23 AUGUST 1930, Page 3

* * * * This attitude will call forth protests

from the advocates of economy. But economy has less intrinsic virtue than value as a useful adjunct of a forward policy. We have tried before now to explain why a greater measure of State control of industry need not compel the country to accept inevitably the Socialist doctrine of State owner- ship, It is, of course, for the employers to show by readiness for conciliation that the hostile and suspicious attitude of the Unions is unnecessary. The Unions have their corresponding duties which have been conspicu- ously well performed hitherto in Lancashire. But to-day they are evidently not making conciliation at all easy. The attention of the Trades Union Congress might well be turned towards the proper organization of the labour market, either through the Labour Exchanges or, much better, through the Unions themselves ; for the Unions are as fit a subject for rationalization as any other.