On Tuesday Mr. Asquith announced the names of the members
of the Commission of Inquiry. They are Sir David Harrel, formerly Permanent Under Secretary for Ireland, who has since acted for the Board of Trade in several important arbitration cases, who will act as Chairman; Sir Thomas Ratcliffe Ellis, Secretary to the Mining Federation and the Federated Coal Owners' Association; Mr. Charles G. Beale, bank director and solicitor, who has been twice Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and is now Yioe-Chancellor of Birmingham University; Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., the Labour member for the Barnard Castle Division ; and Mr. John Burnett, -for many years Chief Labour Correspondent of the Board of Trade. The names were well received in the House, and the Commission entered on its labours the following day. We note, however, with regret, the issue of a protest, most un- founded in our opinion, against the appointment of Mr. Beale, and other evidences of labour distrust in the Commission are not wanting.
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