Unemployment is the foremost matter at home. Where Mr. Thomas
is in charge, an ex-railwayman and Secretary of State for the Colonies, we are not disappointed in finding news of schemes already being prepared for improvements in transport and 'economic development oversea, with "greater opportunities" for emigration. There arc also unexplained hints for the improvement of agriculture and facilities for marketing of farm and fishery outputs. Nothing more definitely drastic is said of the coal industry than that there will be proposals for the reorganization of the industry, its hours and " other factors " and the ownership of the minerals. We do not yet know what form of" co-operation" is to be offered to the iron, steel, and cotton industries " to* improve their position in the markets of the world." A promise of factory legislation presumably refers to the Bill that was crowded, hy lack of time; out of the Home Office programnie before; during and after the days when Mr. Henderson was Secretary of State. No details are attached to the expected promise in connexion with the Eight Hours' Convention " to give effect to the obligations entered into at Washington in 1919."
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