6 JULY 1934, Page 7

The House warmly welcomed Sir Henry Betterton's _appointment to the

Unemployment Assistance Board. They were sorry to lose him, but they thought he ought to go,. being so eminently fitted to operate his own Act. The consequent re-shuffle of offices is of the most modest possible proportions, though Mr. Duff -Cooper gets his chance after long years in a minor part, and Captain Crookshank, the new Minister, is a lively wire. Mr. Stanley had the satisfaction of getting his Road Traffic Bill through the Commons on the eve of his translation to the Cabinet, where, it has been sug- gested, he will find no reluctance to observe a speed limit. The other event of the week was the second reading of the Betting Bill and the Government's decision -to risk the Bill's existence by sending it to a Standing .Committee. -On the whole, therefore, the Government -have not had a very courageous week.