HOME FRONT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23744, 16 September 1942, Page 3

HOME FRONT IN BRITAIN

MANY ECONOMIES CRITICAL COAL SITUATION (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 5 p.m.) LONDON, 14. Questions of coal and of service pay continue to be the chief topics of discussion on Britain’s domestic front, and will probably remain so for some lime. The coal situation is universally regarded as serious, and Mr Arthur Horner, of the South Wales Miners’ Federation, has declared: "It is more desperate now than ever it has been since the commencement of the war. Unless sufficient coal is produced it is sheer waste of time for industries that depend on coal to talk of the possibility of increased production. We can visualise no measure which will remove from this country the danger of a serious and critical situation in regard to coal supplies in the coming winter.” Major Lloyd George, Minister of Fuel and Power, has declared: “The position of coal in Britain is serious for our safety at the present juncture.” Referring to declining production, he added; “We will either inflict hardship on our people or some factories will close down this winter.” He emphasised that Britain faced a gigantic task in making up for the loss by the Russians of half their coal production, 60 per cent, of their iron ore, and 50 per cent, of their steel. The “Daily Herald” declares that the Government, instead of waiting to see whether voluntary rationing will succeed or fail, should impose compulsory rationing immediately and make sure. Service Pay Increases The small increases in service pay announced in the House of Commons last week have not pleased Parliament. There is no doubt that more will be heard on the question when the House meets again. Restrictions caused by the war are gradually increasing on Britain’s home front, even in many things hitherto seemingly of minor importance. Thus the shortage of paper is causing drastic restrictions. The public are asked to write the shortest of letters and to use both sides of the paper. Calendars, must not weigh more than two ounces, menu cards must be under 56 square inches, and playing cards under eight square inches. In addition to the prohibition on the manufacture of ice cream, it will be impossible to send flowers by rail after October, while utility socks are being cut from 14J inches to nine inches in length. There -is a growing shortage of pennies. They have not been minted for two years, and the public are asked to use shillings in gasometers instead of pennies. The extra tobacco tax introduced last April has resulted in a reduced cigarette consumption, to June, by more than 7000.0001b, but 2,000,0001b more pipe tobacco has been sold. Savings Through Travelling Ban Travelling restrictions will result in a saving of 11.500,000 miles when the Green Line bus routes are suspended from the end of September. There are so few private cars on the roads now that people are beginning to look twice at those they do see. wondering what is their business. The increasing nart taken in the war by women is notable. Women are soon going to operate practically all the barrage balloon sites throughout Britain, to drive and maintain all Army motor vehicles up to three tons. Women balloon operators are replacing men as they become fully trained by R.A.F. instructors, and no more men are being trained as balloon operators. It Is said to be popular work with the women. Thousands of men will also be released for other Army duties by women drivers, who are given a 10 weeks’ course, after which they know every part of the vehicle they are likely to handle. The final report of the Uthwatt Committee on the planning of post-war Britain has caused wide interest. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who is chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand, and is closely studying reconstruction, commenting on a report in the “Observer.” says: "It is a masterly exposition of the history and practice of land acquisition for public purposes. It is necessarily highly technical, but will amply repay study by the plain citizen, who every day is becoming more aware that second only to winning the war is the need to lay the foundations for reconstruction in peace.”