ALTHOUGH the size and contents of the ANNUAL have this year been considerably increased, there is much material that has had to be cut down or omitted. For all omissions (as well as commissions) readers will, I hope, forgive me. I wished to include more statistics. Now I shall have to refer my readers to the official publications themselves, which are enumerated elsewhere. I had also intended to say something of the Free-trade question. Great Britain should celebrate in 1896 the Jubilee of the Free-trade measures of 1846. Of the intimate connection between freedom of exchange and freedom of production I must make other opportunities of writing. But if 1846 is to be fitly celebrated, there is no time to lose in forcing the Labour question to the front. The International Socialist Congress to be held in London in 1896 should do much to make us better acquainted with the needs and aspirations of fellow-workers in other lands, and to point the necessity for a better understanding, closer co-operation, and a greater unity among the pioneers of reform at home. My work as Editor this year has swallowed up most of the spare hours I have been blessed with in the intervals of earning a living. But there has been no lack of ready willing helpers. The amount of disinterested helpfulness offered for my disposal, if I could only tell it, would make even the worst opinioned unbeliever reconsider himself. I have to acknowledge with hearty thanks and with a deep sense of obligation all the many favours showed me. If it is not invidious I would especially mention the Editors of the various Labour and Social Reform journals, the secretaries of the leading sccieties, the writers of all the signed articles reproduced; and also the London Scouts (through W. Davis, sec), WR Blair," Leon Caryll," P. Dearmer, GH Edwards, HG Greenham, J. Leakey, H. McClare, PH Nodin, RS Pengelly, C. Salomon, AM Thompson, and JW Wood. Especially do I desire to place on record my indebtedness to Eleanor Keeling, my dear wife, my constant and unsparing helper and friend. And to all of these the thanks of my readers, no less than my own, are justly due. Much information came to hand too late to be incorporated. When it is pointed out that information should be in hand by the end of September, and corrections and urgent matter by the end of October, it can hardly be expected that items received during December can be included. To avoid the great pressure of Christmas work, I am proposing next year to print early in December. Will all my correspondents please remember to send information not later than October? Finally, I would ask my readers to kindly bring THE LABOUR ANNUAL under the notice of those to whom it is dedicated on the opposite page: those who, no matter what place they fill, or by whatever name or description they may be called, are working honestly for a juster and more brotherly state of society. Could the Labour movement only know and learn to utilise the hosts of friends it undoubtedly possesses, the realisation of a happier world would be the work of comparatively a few short years. And may they come quickly. JOSEPH EDWARDS. 7, Wesley St., Upper Stanhope St., Liverpool, 12th December, 1895.