BRITAIN'S NEW SPIRIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 155, 3 July 1935, Page 6

BRITAIN'S NEW SPIRIT.

Over the past few years Britain has undergone a wonderful change of fortune and heart. Since the recent*" dark days, when,the people queued up to pay their taxes, and unparallejed sacrifices were called for from all classes, the country has tapped new reserves of strength: The Britain which seemed weakened by age'has recaptured the spirit of youth. By the huge conversion and other smaller operations the crushing debt, has been made bearable; taxes have fallen, business profits have risen, salary and wage cuts have been restored; new enterprises have taken root behind the shelter of the tariff, and exports are advancing. Every 'indicator of material conditions points to better times. Already in many directions Britain is experiencing a boom. Employment figures are the highest on record. "Will the advance continue? Behind all this activity there is a shadow —unemployment. Britain still has more than two millions out of work. What part of this number is the "hard core," the irreducible number of the unemployed. Even if the present rate of progress could be maintained, perhaps ten or fifteen years would pass before the majority of these could be placed ill work. Britain is over-populated, and but for the cheapness of food some millions of her people would be seriously underfed. As.it is, many have not enough. But poverty is faced with a smile. In the Jubilee celebrat ions a -streamer read, "Poor but loyal." This meant ten times as much as the clusters of flags and bunting which the well-to-do were able to buy and hang out of their windows. Often the gayest scenes were those where the Socialists were believed to be strongest. The Jubilee spirit spread like a fire. Nothing comparable to it had been experienced since the war. It united the people, rekindled their national pride, and won the admiration of the world. The Jubilee may have an important influence upon Britain's position in Europe. It has shown foreigners a nation free, united, law-abiding and determined.