6 MARCH 1920, Page 3

The House of Commons on Wednesday showed for once a

genuine desire to promote economy. The Government asked for nominal votes authorizing them to buy land and build new offices in Manchester and elsewhere at a cost far exceeding a million. It was pointed out that the Government ought to be the last people to propose what may fairly be called " luxury building " at such a time as this, when cottages, though most urgently needed, cannot be built for lack of labour, materials, and money. In the end Mr. Boner Law, after making the cus- tomary threat that the Government must resign if the votes were refused them, had to give an assurance that they would not start building until they had asked and obtained the consent of the House—a tacit admission that the House was right.