Bowden Answers U.K. Critics

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 13

Bowden Answers U.K. Critics

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, Feb. 24.

The British Commonwealth Secretary, Mr Herbert Bowden, lashed out today at what he described as the “new mythologists who are misrepresenting Britain’s economic position abroad.”

“I want to declare war here and now on the new mythologists,” he told a luncheon given in his honour by the New South Wales Government.

"For 200 years, Britain has lived by her inventiveness — or, if you like, by her wits. And her brains and brawn are as good as they ever were.”

Mr Bowden countered a number of “myths” with facts.

They were: The myth that Britain was strike-ridden and undisciplined.

The fact: Britain’s record was better than most other

countries. In the five years from 1960, average days lost a year through strikes for every 1000 people employed in Britain was 242. Tn the United States it was 272 and in Italy 1220. The charge that British labour costs were pricing Britain out of world markets.

The fact: Last year Britain sold more, than ever before—more than £5200 million worth of goods.

The cry that British exports were falling back.

The fact: Exports had risen a total of 13} per cent in the last two years. What was more, it was in some of the toughest markets of the world that British exports were doing best.

The suggestion that Britain lacked the will and capacity to pay her way.

The fact: Britain, having started with a balance-of-payments deficit of nearly £BOO million in 1964, had every expectation of a surplus this year.

The claim that Britain is broke. The fact: “At the last count

Britain’s overseas assets totalled nearly £16,000 million—second only to the United States.” Mr Bowden also rebutted suggestions that British industry was out of date, was relying on selling the old lines and could not compete with other countries in newer products.

“There is nothing wrong with whisky,” he told his audience.

“But the fact is that we have revolutionised the character of our export industries since the war.”

The large part of the great increase in British exports has been new products.