In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Snowden moved
an amendment calling attention to the condition of the people, and asking for a minimum wage and the securing of an equal division of the fruits of industry by " the nationalization of land, railways, mines, and other monopolies." The discussion was pathetic, not only owing to the stories of poverty dis- closed, but to the obvious sincerity with which Labour members like Mr. Roberts demanded such impossible solu- tions as that " no man should be allowed to employ a fellow man unless he could guarantee bim a reasonable wage." Mr. Buxton did his best to smooth down the Labour members, but be did little more than point out what a lot of money the Government bad spent on the working classes, omitting, of course, to add what a lot of money they had also taken out of their pockets by means of taxation. He announced that there is probably to be an international inquiry into the rise of prices, and that the Government will put several more trades under the Wages Boards.
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