Mr. Burns then turned to the Government's alternative reme- dies,
and pointed to the good results achieved by the Labour Exchanges, to the stiffening of the Railways Hours Act and the efforts of the Local Government Board to reduce infant mortality and improve housing, to the projected scheme of insurance against unemployment, to the extension of small holdings, to the Road Board and the Development Board. These were great and solid contributions to social reform, and they asked to be allowed to go on with their work instead of making inroads on the industrial character and manly independence of the poor. We deal in another column with Mr. Lansbury's speech, but may here recall the challenge of Proudhon, the French Socialist, in 1848: " Give me ' the right to work,' and I will concede to you all the other rights of property and beat you." The amendment was lost by 225 to 39 votes.
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