14 APRIL 1928, Page 2

The Engineering Employers' Federation and the National Chamber of Trade

have swelled the chorus that is appealing for relief from the heavy burden of rates upon inilustri. The • Federation makes the definite proposal that abnormal expenditure upon unemployment should be separated from the "Current load" of expenditure; that is to say, it wants the Govern- ment to pay off the excess Of expenditure which the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Guardians have incurred during the recent abnormal years. The demand is for a fresh start. Although we are not convinced that the Government would be wise to accept this par- ticular proposal, we are, sure that the rates put the worst of all the strangleholds upon industry. Mr. Churchill has made it clear on several occasions that he recognizes that as a fact.

* * * *