Some Quarterlies
THE third issue of the Political Quarterly, July-September, 1930, contains sonic good solid thinking on the major problems of the present age. Dr. C. P. Blacker writes on the problem of mental deficiency, and his article is usefully accompanied by a survey of current social statistics by Mr. Caradog Jones. Unemployment is traced in its course of development from the diagnosis made by the Poor Law Commission of 1905-9 up to the present day. These two articles err on the side of dullness. Professor Laski is, as usual, profound, but also rather dull, on the prospects of constitutional government. The best article is that of Professor W. Y. Elliott, of Harvard, on the Constitution of the British Commonwealth. We recommend everyone to read this article before the Imperial Conference, if they would understand the problems that are besetting the minds of leaders in the Dominions—Empire " Free Trade " is not one of them. Replying to " Scrutator " on the inefficiency of Parliament, Major Walter Elliot enjoys a little fun, but his Fabian origin seems to have made of him a Fascist who believes that " the twentieth century state is a totalitarian state." He is evidently in need of that travelling experience which is the great asset of the present Prime Minister and of certain members of the Labour Party. Miss Mair writes convincingly on the need for a Permanent Minorities Com- mission at Geneva, and Mr: Kingsley Martin gives a most useful survey of recent fireworks in the Press.
The Quarterly Review, July, has its usual selection of subjects which arc, for one reason or another, remote from the burly- burly of everyday life. But Sir Andrew Macphail whimsically points the way to Free Trade through Protection ; Mr. Lancelot Lawton has some interesting things to say about The New Era of Liquid Fuel," and Mr. Ian Morrow recalls us to the most striking War books in so far as they are a com- mentary on " Man's soul in war." Special attention may be drawn to Mr. Sydney H. Nicholson's article on " The School of English Church Music," and that by Mr. Douglas Gordon on staghunting. An unsigned article on " The Position of the Conservative Party " contains some excellent good sense. We arc glad to sec that the book reviews include one of Herr Wertheimer's Portrait of the Labour Party.
World Trade, July, 1930, is notable especially for a sound editorial on the necessity to pursue undaunted the inter- national commercial policy which was initiated by the work of the Economic Committee at Geneva, and which is now in danger of being set aside by panicky Protectionists. An extraordinary book, by a Rumanian ex-Minister of Finance, which contrives a new theory of Protection, is effectively dealt with by M. Rene Millienne, assistant editor of the Temps. An article by Signor Ettore Conti on world developments in electricity, is full of useful information. We are glad to see that this periodical, which is of undoubted value to business men everywhere, has now caught the eye of advertisers.
That the New Era, an authoritative quarterly international review of modern education, has changed its title to the New Era In Home and School is significant of the progress that is being made in the science of education. The education provided in the home is to-day recognized to be of as great, if not of greater, importance than that provided in the school. Both parents and teachers will now be able to read the opinions of many eminent people on educational problems dealt with from both their points of view. In the first number of the New Era In Home and School, which is now to be published monthly at 6d. a copy, Miss Evelyn Sharp writes with her usual perception and wit on " Home is Out of -Fashion !" Miss Agnes Tilson on "Why Parent Education ? " besides many other interesting features. The co-operation of parents and teachers is essential to the real education of the child, and we feel confident that this new monthly will do much to bring this co-operation about.
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