excusable.  The happy-go-lucky way in which new Ministries and new departments with vague and ill-defined but enormous powers have been created must come to an end.  We should have some definite and recognised method of authorising changes in the system of Government.  To set aside the Cabinet which, although it had no legal position, had powers sanctioned and established by long constitutional custom, and to concentrate authority in a small body selected and increased or diminished from time to time at the will of a Prime Minister, was probably necessary for successful prosecution of the War, but nothing else could justify some of the irregularities that have been committed.

Doctrines have been put forward sometimes in the Courts during the War by counsel representing the Crown—­i.e., in effect some Ministry—­which would have seemed questionable even in the days of the Stuarts.  The whole of the special War Legislation, both Statutes and Orders of all kinds, will require to be revised and, unless there is strong reason to the contrary in any special cases, repealed.  The burden of proof should be on those who think any of this exceptional legislation should be retained.  Of course, care must be taken, especially in matters affecting commerce and industry, to give due notice of alterations and to change gradually so as not to prejudice arrangements already made and contracts in course of fulfilment.

Special attention will have to be given to the early removal of those restraints on trade—­prohibition of exports and imports—­which have been frequently necessary, either to retain in the country what is wanted to satisfy home requirements or to prevent goods from finding their way to the enemy, or to ensure that the limited tonnage available is used to bring the commodities which are vital to meet the pressing needs either of the forces engaged in War or of the civilian population.  These restraints, however, are not only most harassing to merchants and involve much additional labour when labour is scarce, but if continued would prevent this country from carrying on the valuable entrepot trade for which its geographical position, its financial resources, and its command of shipping specially fit it.  That trade at least depends on the maintenance of a policy of the open door both for coming in and going out.  England is a good distributing centre—­unless by artificial restrictions we destroy our opportunities.  Merchants and manufacturers have been very patient as a rule under the fetters it has been thought necessary to impose to meet War conditions; these fetters should be removed as soon as possible.  Unless this is done they will be fatally handicapped when Hamburg and Bremen again come into competition with them as distributing centres for the countries now neutral, and even for those which have been in alliance with us.