332 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

take part in discussion in any committee. The General Purposes

Committee deals with urgent or exceptional matters, and, since

it contains the chairmen of committees, can ensure that the work

of the departments is co-ordinated. A still closer parallel to the

Cabinet is found in the unofficial committee of the chief members

of the majority party; this again will include the chairmen of

committees, and is die body which plans in advance the policy

which the General Purposes and other committees will execute.

Such a method implies, if not a two-party system, at any rate

the possession of a clear majority by one party, such as has always

been found throughout the Council's history. From 1889 till

1907 the Progressives ruled London, and the Moderates were in

opposition; the former party included a number of Socialists,

and developed public enterprise to an extent which the Moderates

claimed was undesirable. At the election of 1907 the Moderates

laid great stress on the dangers of extravagance, and the need

for "Municipal Reform" which thus became the name of their

party. They held power from 1907 till 1934; meanwhile the

Progressive Party dwindled away and Labour became the

Opposition. At the 1934 election, Labour claimed that the

Municipal Reformers had pursued economy at the expense of

essential public services. Labour secured a majority, which it

still holds, on a programme of increased services, particularly in

housing. The L.C.C. Election of 1937 was notable for the

keenness with which both sides fought, and for the use of the

most modern ideas in propaganda and poster designing. The

growth of public interest was marked by the decision that Mr.

Herbert Morrison and Sir Harold Webbe, the leaders of the

Labour and Municipal Reform parties in the Council, should

speak over the wireless on the issues involved. The percentage

of electors who voted rose to forty, the highest since 1907.

One feature of the Central Government—the elaborate
procedure of Parliament—has, fortunately, not been imitated by
the L.C.C. Committee, and Council meetings proceed, as in a
County Borough, with questions, discussion of reports, and