* * * Another danger of a very familiar kind
is that a subsidy always tends to become permanent. Employers who have been subsidized tell you that the withdrawal of the subsidy simply means an industrial collapse. In his letter to the Times Sir Alfred Mond explains that the scheme would end automatically when " a reduction to normality " in the unemployed figures is reached. That is an easier regulation to make than to carry out. In raising objections, however, we are only inspired by the purpose which we professed in a leading article on the subject on April 4th, namely to get our objections answered. If the difficulties can be overcome so much the better. We only want full inquiry, and we are very glad indeed that the Government are determined not to turn the scheme down unless they feel that the facts tell too strongly against Sir Alfred Mond's optimism.
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