PROPOSED MINISTRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 74, 8 January 1941, Page 5

PROPOSED MINISTRY.

“TIMES" COMMENT ON POSITION.

“GOVERNMENT FUMBLING.”

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 6

“The Times,” in a leader on the new Cabinet committees, said that disappointment was widespread that the achievements of the Navy, Air Force, and Army were not backed to the maximum by civilian effort and sacrifice.

“We are not putting out our full effort. Our resources are not sufficiently utilised, and we cannot expect to beat a fully mobilised Germany until we put our whole strength into the war. When yesterday the Government took power to requisition persons, services, anj. property, the people expected the Government to tell them how best to contribute to victory. There is a, growing exasperation over Ministers’ reliance on appeals to the public when they have the power to do whatever is necessary. Worst of all is the impression that the Government is fumbling without a policy on the whole economic side of the war. The framing of a coherent self-con-sistent policy covering the whole field of finance, production, and trade cannot be delayed without grave risk, and questioning will not he stilled until the country sees that the Government has such a policy and sees that all the Ministers, departments, and Governmental. agencies are working on agreed lines to the same end. The public must be assured that behind the confusion there is a policy and a programme, and the means of carrying them out expeditiously and effectually.”