THE SANKEY REPORT AND NATIONALIZATION. (To THE EDITOR OF THE
" SPECTATOR."] S1R,—There is one statement in the Sankey Report which has apparently not received the attention it merits, and it is of the more importance as it very clearly defines the views of
Mr. Justice Sankey regarding the real standing of the Com- mission in regard to its recommendations upon the subject of nationalization. The statement in question is Recommendation No. 19 in the Interim Report (Vol. I.), and reads as follows:- " It must not, however, be forgotten that after all the question of nationalization or a method of unification by national purchase and/or by joint control, is ultimately one of policy to be determined by Parliament and not by this Com- mission, although the Commission will be able to consider and report upon the various schemes or suggestions which may be put forward as a final solution of the problem."
In the face of this categorical definition, the contention put forward from time to time by various Labour leaders to the effect that the function of the Commission was to lay down a policy which the Government had to follow is plainly un- tenable. Mr. Lloyd George took pains to combat this view of the matter to the Labour deputation which interviewed him soon after the publication of the Final Report, but apparently he did not quote this Recommendation No. 19, which would have fully justified his contention.—I am, Sir, dm.,
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