26 JANUARY 1934, Page 2

*- The Prime Minister at Leeds .

The Prime Minister gave a comprehensive survey of the past achievements and future policy of the Govern- ment in the first of the series of meetings at which Ministers will explain their joint programme, with a view to justifying their decision to hold together as a National Government. Mr. MacDonald . wisely emphasized the new policies which have been started but not yet carried to completion—the experimental policy of trade agreements, for example, which is still in its infancy, and admits of vast extension, or the encouragement of rationalization in industry as the essential sequel of Protection.• Nor did lie fail to point out that it was the aim of his Government, which is still under the fire of criticism iii regard to tariffs, to put the reduction of trade barriers throughout the world in the forefront of its programme. Many of those who do not fully endorse the whole programme of the Government feel that it is in the public interest that the experiments to which it has put its hand should be given a fuller trial. That in itself is a reason for keeping the present team in . being for the moment.