27 APRIL 1929, Page 3

It is characteristic of Mr. Baldwin that he has allowed

other Ministers to stand forward as better political sales- men than himself. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, for example, leaves us in no doubt that he has planned a thorough- going scheme of slum-clearance, and Sir Samuel Hoare has dwelt upon the virtually unreserved support that the Government would give to the railways. This last policy is thoroughly sound. It is ridiculous to despair of the railways. They are essential to a proper balance of transport. The balance has been upset by the great improvement of the roads as compared with the rail- ways. Not that there is not a great deal of road work still to 'be done, but the balance is in urgent need of correction.