BRITAIN’S CRISIS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25139, 21 March 1947, Page 7

BRITAIN’S CRISIS

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS

GOVERNMENT’S REMEDY “ INADEQUATE”

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 19. Moving in the House of Lords a resolution deploring as inadequate the Government’s measures to remedy the economic situation, Lord Rennell said the White Paper contained no plan, and scarcely even a policy. There was a lack of unified policy between Government departments. The Ministers should co-ordinate their plans and the Cabinet should decide.

Lord Swinton said that Empire trading would become more important than ever when they reached the critical date of July 15, when sterling balances would become liquid. The Archbishop of York (Dr. Garbutt)'said that unless production increased, Britain’s international importance would gradually fade. He believed the crisis was largely moral and spiritual. There was widespread apathy throughout the country. “We are a tired nation, exhausted by two great wars, disappointed and disillusioned, and many people ‘ are underfed. It requires ’ great inducement to get the people to do what they have to do to -day,” he: said. The Government, he added, should appeal to the people’s sense of duty to the whole community. Lord Pethick-Lawrence, referring to the Gqverrqjient’s cheap money policy, said that with the national debt at £25,000,000,000 it was essential to have a low rate of interest if Britain were to meet her obligations. The Government’s policy was to secure a full return for exports in goods, gold, or currencies convertible into dollars. Referring to the coal shortage, Lord Pethick-Lawrence said the Government realised that the production of 200,000,000 tons a year mentioned in the White Paper was too low for all needs, but the Government had inserted a realistic figure, and would be happy if it surpassed it. It would have been a disastrous policy to put Poles in the mines before the miners were willing to accept them. A start would be made by training 500 Poles weekly. Lord Quibell criticised trade unions which banned the bonus system and piecework. He said he got men to lay 1000 bricks a day under a bonus system. The debate was adjourned.