6 AUGUST 1921, Page 3

We trust that no one will be misled into thinking

that this new committee will in any way satisfy the demand which we have so often made for temporarily placing the country's finances in the hands of National Trustees, just as the affairs of a company or firm when badly involved are placed in the hands of trustees. Their duty is to pull things round, and till their job is done they are supreme. A mere Advisory Committee, responsible, in fact, to none but the Primo Minister —i.e., the Chief Spendthrift—is quite useless to stem the present torrent of taxation and of administrative prodigality. Only men, or a man, armed with the powers of both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer can now save the situation.