FREE ENTERPRISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1945, Page 7

FREE ENTERPRISE

FACTOR IN FUTURE PROBLEMS

SPEECH BY SIR J. ANDERSON (By Teiigraph— Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, June 7

"I am not a party man, and have never before taken any part whatever in a General Election," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, in the fourth of the series of leaders' General Election broadcasts.

He said he was convinced that a broad-based Government was still needed which commanded the widest measure of support throughout the country. Nothing could be more damaging, in view, of the enormous problems, domestic and international, facing them, than a; Government which lacked strength and confidence coming from a solid majority in Parliament, or a Government which was more intent on the pursuit of doctrinaire theories than practical solution of the country's problems. The nation could not allow expenditure to outstrip revenue indefinitely, and it must realise the absolute neces--1 sity for balancing the national accounts at a reasonably early date. In the meantime, it was essential that there should be an adequate volume, of genu- ! me savings, which were needed to provide money for houses, factories, ships. I buildings, ahd. above all to prevent danger of inflation, from which the present Government was determined to protect them. Borrowing would still be necessary for some time after the war. . • NEED FOR CONFIDENCE. Sir John Anderson stressed that the financial system required regulation and maintenance, certain controls, and confidence—confidence in , the soundness of national policy arid that certain social* evils which-the late Government was pledged to remedy weuld not be neglected. • ' He instanced projects to remedy unemployment, and for social insurance,

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health service, and housing, and expressed the opinion as Chancellor of the, Exchequer that with such confidence "we can and shall afford them." Dealing with the question of private versus public ownership, Sir John Anderson said: "Let us pin our faith on free enterprise, which has. served us well in the past, on which our prosperity was built, and which has inspired our spirit of adventure," There were certain activities which might well require a large measure of public control, but he entirely disagreed with Mr. Attlee when he said they cculd have under control a spirit of enterprise which was lacking today. It was unquestionably to private enterprise that they must' look to see them througn the problems of the next few years..