27 APRIL 1962, Page 13

MR. LLOYD'S WICKED ALTERNATIVES

Nicholas Davenport, in a recent issue of the Spectator, alluded to the Chancellor's 'pay pause' as a neurosis. He writes, in last week's issue, that 'The. Chancellor's parting shot in the Budget debate was a vicious, if not foul, blow.'

The Chancellor, as an economist, may appear either to suffer from the hesitations and uncertainties of a neurotic or to possess the vicious propensities of a foul person. He cannot, however, on the one and same issue of government finance, demonstrate both sets of qualities.

It would be a help if Mr. Davenport. when in- structing your readers in 'applied economics,' re- frained from delineating the outstanding character traits of leading statesmen in incompatible terms.

72 Harley Street. WI

MIIRDO MACKENZIE