The only other point to which attention might be called arose out of the recent prosecution of four young members of the Fascisti Party, for appropriating a van containing copies of the "Daily Herald." They overpowered the driver and left the van in a side street. Obviously it was impossible to charg them with theft because it wa ridiculous to suppose they wanted to thieve the contents, so the Magis~ trate let them off with a wigging. This leniency, however, has greatly annoyed the Labour Party who contend that on the one hand the Communists have all been committed for triul—which is true since they are now at the Old Bailey—while the Fascisti, who are another form of Extremist, are leniently treated by the Courts. They suggest, of course, that the Government has influenced the prosecution, Towards the close of the Guildhall speeches, therefore, the Attorn General took the opportunity of re-fating the allegations which have deen made during the last few days concerning the withdrawal of a charge of larceny against these four men. Sir Douglas Liege made it perfectly clear that there had been Cabinet consideration or decision on the case, and thet no inatructions were given to the Pubic Prosceutor, either directly or indirectly.
Next week Parliament will meet under "improving auspices. Take Unertployrtent. The number of persons on November 2; recorded "on the; registers of Employment Exchange in Great Britain was 1,207- 700. This was 24696 fewer than Unemployment Insurance Moreover the whole question of Unemployment Insurance is to be investigated, and there is no doubt that this is essential because no one can quite say what is its effect on National initiative and enterprise. Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland (Mf ter of Labour) has appointed an im. portant Committee of Inquiry into Unemployment Insurance. Theic task, it is announced will be: "To consider in the light of experience gained in the working of the Unemployed Insurance scheme what changes in the scheme, if any, ought to be made." The Committee H—a strong' body containing repr sentatives of Capital and Labour, Finance and Local Government. will consist of the following:
Lord Blanesburgh Miss Sir James Curtis Mr. J. Hamilton Mr. Frank Hodges Mr. Laurence Sir Hugo Hirst Hol Mr. A. Holmes sie William Sir Glynn Hamilton West gow Viscountess Mil-
The Secretary of the Committee is Mr. J. A. Dale, of the Employment and Insurance Department of the Ministry of Labour.
It is evident from the wide terms of reference that the intention is to review the whole system of Unemployment _Insurance—contributions, benefits, administration and moral and industrial effects.
The Act of Parliament which governs the existing system expires next June, and the object of the new inguiry is to enable the Government to decide on what conditions the so-called "dole" should be. continued in the future. There is no serious attempt "in responsible quarters to abolish Unemployment surance altogether, though this proposal appears to be favoured by Extremists outside the Government. Ministerial statements have not. one further than to suggest that many undesirable anomalies have grown up under the existing system, and that it is time the whole structure of the scheme was over. hauled.
Prison Refo:
We are obviously introducing more humane system in the treat ment of prisoners. The broad arrow on prison clothes is to be abandoned. Speaking yesterday in London the Home Secretary stated, that Justice was no longer intended to ish punitively. It was intended to punish for reformation. Unless prisoners were discharged better men and better women the administration of justice had la-mentally failed. Many female recidivists were poor miserable elder ly women who were beyond hope of reformation. The State would have to consider very soon whether it might not give power to order Preventive detention of a kindly character for these unfortunate old People who are not convicted of serious crimes. The cruelty and the wickedness of a fortnight's or three weeks' imprisonment for a first offender was beyond words. They had made an experiment at Wakefield recently. No prisoner was sent there for less than six months, and by a system of intensified work and education and of careful individual visiting the experiment was producing very satisfactory results. It was going very far to prove that a sentence of six months was in the interests of the prisoner. He hoped this system would be extended.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.