BRITISH AFFAIRS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1943, Page 3

BRITISH AFFAIRS

MATTERS OF MOMENT Sweeping Measures By Aircraft Production Minister N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 10.30 p.m. LONDON, April 5. The action of Sir Stafford Cripps, Minister of Aircraft Production, taking over the entire shareholding of Short Brothers (aircraft builders) and securing a new board -of directors, the forthcoming Labour party conference, another suggestion of. a British agricultural policy are among the subjects recently engaging public attention in Britain. There is a fairly wide feeling that a further Government statement should be made to clarify Sir Stafford Cripps' action. When he was appointed last November it was stated that Britain's aircraft production was good, but could be better. In December he appointed a new managing director of the Fairey Aviation Company and English Electric and took over Napier and Sons, the aircraft engine factory. Next, the whole of Short Brothers' share capital was transferred and vested in nominees of the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Some Mystification The result has been some mystification, as Sir Stafford Cripps had not informed the House of Commons why he thought it necessary to take this action. There are accusations of axes being ground, that nationalisation is being brought in by the side door, that monopoly is being reinforced. While there is no tendency to criticise Sir Stafford Cripps personally, he is being pressed to say with what evidence that action was necessary and unprejudiced.

The Labour party's annual conference at Whitsun is arousing more interest—some say excitement—than ever before. There will be two major decisions it will have to take, first,

Sir Stafford Cripps.

whether the electoral truce will be broken, and, second, whether the Communist party's request fon admission to the Labour party will be accepted. It is at present thought the answer will be in the negative in both cases. ' .'.'_'.',' ~,~"; The Labour party is passing through a difficult phase. It has been observed that while the country's centre is moving to the left, people are not following the Labour party, some tending towards the Communists, . others towards the Commonwealth. The latter is a new party which has been contesting byelections. It is also observed that the commonest complaint against the Labour party is that it is dominated by the trade unions. It is expected to be a lively conference—and the most important for Labour's- future. Further grist to the discussion of post-war agriculture has been added by the Conservative party sub-com-mittee's report. It fits in with proposals of other bodies stressing the need for stable world -prices on an international basis, more efficient farming, better marketing and better conditions in villages. Just what proportions Britain's farming will assume after the war is difficult at present to assess, but industrial and commercial bodies do not hesitate to point out that Britain is firstly an industrial country, and it is most important, for its income from overseas, that the country's prosperity should rest on flourishing industry rather than large domestic agriculture. Many are of opinion that the policy of guaranteed prices, markets and wages has come to stay for Britain's agriculture. Sooner or later the House of Commons must discuss the whole subject.