DECISION ON ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25935, 15 October 1949, Page 7

DECISION ON ELECTION

CRITICISM BY MR CHURCHILL “SPECULATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENDED” LONDON, October 13. Mr Churchill this evening criticised the Prim? Minister (Mr Attlee) for not ending earlier the speculation about the election date, which, as Mr Attlee admitted, had caused disturbance in trade and industry. Mr Churchill said that dhe Conservatives were quite indifferent to the date of the election, so long as they were not taken by surprise. “From a national point of view, the sooner the election the better,” he said. If the Socialists wished to redeem their record, they should do their duty in the intervening months by carrying out financial reforms that were necessary, however unpopular they might be. “We hope that Conservative wageearners in industry will join the trade unions and will take an effective part in their work, not as party men. but as good trade unionists. I consider myself a trade unionist,” he said. Reuter’s financial correspondent says that the first effect on the London Stock Excnange of the announcement that there would be no General Election this year was to harden Government securities and gold mining shares, but to soften British industrial shares. “By deciding to stay in office the British Labour Government has challenged itself,” says “The Times.” "Uncertainty c bout the election has been disoellcd only to show looming larger and nearer uncertainty about the Government's policies. A weary sequence of reviews, inquiries, talks and disputations is still going on throughout the Government, and indeed throughout the Labour movement. The Government can only give meaning to the Prime Minister’s refusal to ask for an early dissolution of Parliament by putting an end to all this.” Tire “Daily Herald” comments: Mr Attlee’s decision that Parliament shall not be dissolved in 1949 was the right decision. When the election comes it will be fought on a calm comparison between the parties, between their past deeds and their future intentions. That is the sort of comparison the Tories are desperately anxious to dodge. They will not be allowed to dodge it.” The independent "Daily Express describes Mr Attlee’s decision as “a bad. bad decision.” It adds: “It condemns the country to an undefined period of electioneering. An argument, that might have been settled by the end of November is to drag on possiblv into the late spring.” The “Daily Telegraph” says that the delay now will not. end the uncertainty in which business conducts its affairs. There will be tension continuing over many months. The “Manchester Guardian” comments that Mr Attlee’s decision is probably a profoundly mistaken one. “We are condemned to a prolonged bout of election fever good for nobody,” it says. FORECAST ON RESULT OF ELECTION REDUCED MAJORITY FOR LABOUR (Rec. 8 p.m.) VIENNA. October 14. The British Minister of War (Mr Emanuel Shinwell) told correspondents here to-day that the Labour Party would win the General Election next year "but with a reduced majority of say 80 to 100 seats." INCREASED WOOL PRICES EFFECT OF STERLING DEVALUATION (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. October 13. The Commonwealth Economic Committee ’n its publication “Wool Intelligence,” states that since the devaluation of sterling the prices for raw wool have risen 5 per cent, above those ruling at the end of last season. "It may take some months before the effects of devaluation have permeated through the markets, but two governing factors will be the recovery of activity in the American wool and textile industry and the degree of inflationary pressure in the chief wool consuming countries.” Rationing of Sweets in West Germany.—The West German Food Minister (Mr Wilhelm Niklas) announced to-day that the rationing of sweets would be abolished in Western Germany at once, and that meat rationing would probably end soon. Correspondents in Germanv say that German sweet shops have their shelves piled high with British chocolate, much of which is made with sugar bought with dollars. Four-ounce blocks of chocolate in Germanv can now be bought for 2s. —Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.. London. October 13. Death of Nokrashy Pasha.— The Supreme Military Tribunal to-day sentenced four young Egyptians to penal servitude fox- life for conspiracy in the murder of the former Prime Minister. Nokrashy Pasha, who was assassinated in December. 1948. Nine other accused were acquitted.—Cairo, October 13. 1