SPEECH BY MR EDEN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 7

SPEECH BY MR EDEN

British Labour Aims Debated

CONSERVATIVES’ CONFERENCE

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. October 12.

The British Conservative Party’s annual conference to-day unanimously adopted an emergency resolution condemning the Labour Government’s economic conduct, culminating in the devaluation of sterling. The conference is the biggest eve r held by the party, and it opened amid feverish speculation that a General Election might be held earlier than next spring—perhaps even next month. Four thousand five hundred delegates attended.

Mr R. A. Eden, deputy-leader of the party, said in a speech that devaluation had made it certain that Britain's standard of living was going down. ■

"Devaluation is not in any sense a magic wand,” Mr Eden said. “It is not even a policy. It is a pretty desperate device. Unless we set a new course at once the fall—which must in. any event be painful—will be catastrophic.” The Labour Government, Mr Eden said, had spent too much time in destroying wealth and too little time in creating it. Mr Eden said that the Conservatives could promise nothing but hard and challenging times as the only road to national solvency. “In some industries this will mean longer hours,” he continued. ‘ln every industry it will mean more effort of brain and muscle in the hours being worked. Above all. we need a Government that will tell the whole truth to the nation, however sharp and however disagreeable. The challenge cannot come too soon.” Mr Eden said that Britain must seek a solution of her problem of sterling balances. Unemployment was certain when Marshall aid was exhausted and the sellers’ market came to an end unless the right action was *aken. Nationalisation Criticised Mr Oliver Lyttelton severely criticised nationalisation which; he said, the Conservatives opposed in all the forms in which it had been presented, and in which it was threatened. He said that the Labour Party’s proposals to nationalise insurance broke all the pledges given by Mr Attlee and Sir Stafford Cripps. "It is shameless to try to invoke the Dunkirk spirit and to call for national unity and sacrifice, if at the same time you propose to proceed with the nationalisation of iron and steel,” Mr Lyttelton said. "The Steel Bill is being introduced for only one reason —to take a further step in controlling industry in all its aspects, gripping once more with a fresh grip all industries which depend for their basic raw material on iron and steel. The steps towards nationalisation are measures by which the Socialist Government is preparing a seed-bed for Communism.”

The Conservative Party reaffirmed its stand against nationalisation and deplored the "loss of independence” of unions in nationalised industries.

The conference unanimously passed three resolutions backing the Conservative stand on matters that will certainly be vital issues during the election. The first resolution declared that all unions should be freed from political affiliations, and that strikes should not begin without a secret ballot. The second said that the nationalisation of insurance would be "detrimental to policyholders, insurance staffs and the country.” The third urged the adoption of methods by which nationalised industries and services “may again be made efficient.”