round, would be increased to £162 per annum. The equal distribution of income would, of course, have enormously increased prices. Professor Bowley observes: “When it is realized that the whole income of the nation was only sufficient for reasonable needs if equally divided, luxurious expenditure is seen to be more unjustifiable even than has been commonly supposed.” The Brussels International Financial Conference said: “Above all, to fill up the gap between the supply of, and the demand for, commodities, it is the duty of every patriotic citizen to practise the strictest possible economy, and so to contribute his maximum effort to the common weal. Such private action is the indispensable basis for the fixed measures required to restore public finances.” The Duty of the Citizen The principles of Labour policy which I have outlined are generally in the direction of freedom and in its best sense individualism, looking rather to the development in industry of co-operation than to struggle and the use of power to settle differences and express the balance of economic forces. But industrial freedom and individualism impose correlative responsibilities on all citizens, especially in regard to the maintenance of efficient social services. At first sight, any mention of social services may appear a contradiction of the argument developed so far. Social services to many minds are inevitably associated with relief in the narrow sense of the word, conceived as a concession to the clamour of Socialist theorists. In reality they are the growing expression of an increased social sensitiveness. No State can be healthy which is based on a foundation of hardship and suffering. Certain abuses must be removed, and certain conditions remedied. In any advanced economic society the State must take action, has taken action, and will in future extend its action. The social conscience, to anyone who reads history, is a real and growing force. But to be sound and effective it must of necessity be based upon voluntary individual co-operation. As things are to-day, we must recognize that State activity in social services is in many branches ahead of the understanding of the ordinary man. It has, through the nature of our political machinery, developed in a specialized manner, which throws a heavy burden upon legislators and administrators whether voluntary or official. There is a consequent confusion, lack of co-ordination, and overlapping of effort which leads to waste, not merely of money, but of what is, in the long run, more important—human enthusiasm, effort and efficiency. In dealing with this problem, the individual is of vital importance. The average citizen must know more, take more interest, and render more service, if order and economy are to take the place of confusion and waste. The necessity for this individual interest is reinforced by the present financial situation.