Mr. Bevin's "Human Budget" _ - Mr. Bevin made an
announcement of great importance last Sunday when he said that his Ministry was setting up a fully-equipped department to prepare what he picturesquely described as a "human Budget "—the estimates of this Budget being those of the labour required in various fields of industry for twelve months ahead. He proposes to retain some of the war organisation he possesses with a view to handling, not after the event, but in advance, the problems which concern employment and unemployment. There is little doubt that in the years immediately following the war industry will require more workers than are available. There will be an army of workers required for housing alone, and industrial re-equipment, textiles and othei consumption goods, and many articles for export will make exacting claims. It will be the function of Mr. Bevin's department to get returns from industry of labour required, and to guide the flow of human material to the points where it is most needed. But it will be concerned not only with the more immediate problem of the labour shortage ; it will look forward and endeavour to anticipate the conditions Of the labour market when some trades will show signs of slackening. To be forewarned is to be fore- armed, and slump tendencies may to some extent be counteracted by making provision for the transference of workers to other jobs in constructive work kept in reserve for just such a moment. Mr. Bevin is doing well to provide the machinery now.
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