3 MAY 1940, Page 3

While waiting for a political crisis the House trudges drearily

through its legislative programme. On Tuesday the Workmen's Compensation Bill received its second reading. The attend- ance among the Opposition parties was not too good. On the Government side it reached a new low level. When Mr. Denman was delivering an interesting and well-informed speech there were two Ministers to hear him. Otherwise tht Govern- ment benches were literally empty. Admittedly it is difficult to concentrate on domestic reforms while the fate of nations is in the balance. The injured soldier seems more important than the injured workman. But that is no excuse for members who simply do not trouble to attend to the day-to-day business of the House,