BRITISH-SOVIET TRADETALKS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 7

BRITISH-SOVIET TRADETALKS

MISSION REMAINS IN MOSCOW

DEADLOCK ON PRICE FOR WHEAT (NE. Press Association—Copyright) (Ric. 8.30 pjn.) LONDON, July 24. “The leader of the British trade mission, Mr Harold Wilson, who was to have left Moscow to-day, has postponed his departure,” says the Moscow correspondent of Reuters. "Mr Wilson had a long talk last night with the Soviet Minister tor Foreign Trade (Mr Mikoyan), and the possibility of a last-minute BritishRussian trade agreement is not ruled out

“Mr Wilson will see Mr Mikoyan again to-day.” “The prospects of a British-Russian trade agreement were described last night in London as still completely Uncertain, with a deadlock on the terms tor extending the 1941 credit agreement and pa the price Britain is to pay tor Russian wheat,” sayS the financial correspondent of 'Reuters.

"Russia wants Britain to pay the full Chicago price, which the Russians on other occasions have admitted is extortionate. It is below Argentina’s price, but Argentina no longer finds bulk buyers at that price and its tentative effort to make further kales through private exporters seems to have produced few results. “British efforts to link a deferment of the 1941 credit with actual deliveries of Russian grain have proved impracticable. Britain would have to take Russia's promise for grain deliveries at high prices in return for deferring for 12 to 15 years the actual cash soon falling due. "Britain is playing for big stakes—an attempt to break the inflationary spiral which is regarded as ruining the world.” , . _ The political correspondent of Reuters says: “Apparently the Russians will not agree to operate the alreadysigned timber agreement unless a satisfactory understanding is reached about other things. Everything seems conditional on an agreement as a whole being settled. One of Britain’s problems is that she cannot make a pact with the Russians that would appear to the Canadians manifestly more favourable than the current British agreement with Canada.”

NEW HOURS FOR INDUSTRY

WINTER CHANGE IN BRITAIN

ELECTRICITY DEMAND TO BE SPREAD (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, July 23. Britain is faced with a major industrial change on October 1, when agreed schemes for “staggering" working hours to spread the electricity load will come into force. Millions of people throughout the country will be affected. Some wiU have to begin work much earlier and others to end work much later. „ The immediate cause of the Government’s decision, backed by the Trades Union Congress and the British Employers’ Confederation, is not the coal shortage. It was made because the electricity stations have too little plant to generate all the electricity required on winter days. ; Some electricity plant was destroyed during the war, soirie is worn out Above all, there has been an increase of 70 per cent since 1939 in the use of electricity for industrial and domestic purposes. Last winter the generating stations could not carry peak loads during the day time, and cuts had to be made. To keep industry working without cuts or “load-shedding,” with the consequent loss of production and unemployment the peak load on the electricity stations during the day will be cut by one-third during the coming winter.

The Government has asked the regional boards for industry to have schemes ready by October 1. These schemes will be made compulsory and the penalties for “unreasonable failure” to operate them will be up to £5OO or one year’s imprisonment. Arrangements to work tho schemes ire expected to vary from district to district Managements will have to reorganise their factories, and workers will nave to alter their habits of life. Many other workers, .particularly those engaged in transport will also be affected, and there will have to be a wide revision of agreements on hours of overtime and rates of pay. The conditions of employment of women and young people may have to be modified.

It is suggested that two shifts may be worked, the first from 7 a.m. to 3 f m., and the second from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m. To a certain extent the coal shortage affects the supply of electricity, for if more coal were available there would be an increased output of steel and the production of generating plant could be quickened. The answer to the question of how many winters of “staggered” hours face Britain has not yet been provided, though it has been said by the Minister of Fuel (Mr E. Shinwell) that in fly® years six new power stations will be required.

PLAN APPROVED BY T.U.C. COUNCIL

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. The general council, of the Trades Union Congress, representing 7,000,000 workers, unanimously and without argument, endorsed the Government’s plan for staggering hours in the coming winter to spread the electricity load.

COST OF LIVING IN AMERICA

(Rec. 10.30.) WASHINGTON, July 23. The United States Bureau of Labour Statistics reported to-day that the cost of living in the United States reached a record height on June 15—18 per cent, more than a year before, and 59 per cent, more than before the war.