Labour and the Depressed Areas
• Since the end of November, when it began its work, the Labour Party's Special Areas Commission has visited South Wales, 1 the North-Eastern Area,- and Lancashire, and this week and last has made a tour of West Cumber- land. The Commission is under the chairmanship of Mr. Hugh Dalton, M.P., Chairman of the National Executive of the Labour Party ; and by interviews with local representatives and direct inspection has made itself thoroughly conversant with conditions in the depressed areas. The results of its enquiries will be published in a report. No doubt much of the information the Commission collects could be obtained from written sources ; but, for "a true understanding of the problem, there is no substitute for knowledge of local- conditions and local feeling. Such facts as that in Frizington,West Cumberland, only 120 households out of 650 have any members in employment, and that 67 per cent. of those on relief are also in receipt of assistance for ill-health and hardship, can be set down in cold print, but to see the conditions on the spot and talk to the men and women concerned is something very different. The Commission's. work will be invaluable to the Party ; but it is an advantage also to Parliament and to the nation that His Majesty's Opposition should fortify itself with first-hand knowledge of the country's greatest domestic . problem. • * • *
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