The highly important Bill to, restore the old-Trade Union customs
and practices which were-suspended during the war was read a second time in the House of Commons on Monday. The Bill redeems a Government pledge. At the same time it may be hoped that the Trade Unions will not insist on the literal restoration of those old rules and customs under which men were discouraged or prevented from doing their best, while women were kept out of many industries. Mr. Clynes admitted that the Unions must take account of the claims of the women and of the partly skilled workers, who have done such valuable service throughout the war. He declared that the deliberate limitation of output not only injured the employer and the country, but was also " a great and real loss to the working men themselves." It would be well if this truth were impressed upon every member of a Trade Union. We can pay our debts and reduce prices to the old level only by producing more thrR, we did before. High wages can be paid to men who do a fair day's work. But not even America could afford to pay high wages to slack workmen.
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