More Inquiries in Derelict Areas The . Minister of Labour. acted
with some promptitude last week in endeavouring to correct the unfortunate impression created by the Prime Minister's unwillingness to recognize the exceptional position of certain distressed areas—notably in Cumberland, in Durham and Tyneside, in South Wales, and in Lanarkshire. He announced the decision to send four investigators, one to each of these four areas, to inquire into this special problem. Now it is little more than two years since these regions were most carefully surveyed by the Board of Trade. The problem was then fully studied, and has not materially changed. Exact increases or decreases in the figures of unemployment are to be found in the statistics of the Ministry of Labour. It is not apparent that there is any good reason for the delay in sending out the commis- sioners unless, it is to give the Government time to think. But the decision is welcome as showing that the Goyern- ment now recognizes that the position of these areas is a special one, and that their distress will not automatically disappear with the general revival of trade. Since it is obvious that the task of the commissioners should be limited to ascertaining what changes there may haye been since the last report was made, their inquiry ought not to be allowed to take long. * *
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