Issues to the Fore?

OUR functioning anarchy is best highlighted by the programme put together for the Prime Minister's tour of South America and, later, of Japan. Some thirty-two days will be absorbed by this activity. Apart from the fact that it is difficult to find a parallel elsewhere of such long absences by a head of government, the criticism is sharpened by the existence of a number of new economic and political problems which can be tackled only in between sessions of Parliament. In this way, the impression is created that there is no intention to do anything substantial.