A GOOD START

Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 5

A GOOD START

LABOUR GOVERNMENT IMPRESSES HISTORIC TEN WEEKS TN.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 1015 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. Britain’s Parliament is now in recess after an historic 10 weeks in which it held the unflagging interest of the nation. Concrete results include the nationalisation of the Bank of England. The Bill has now been passed by the House of Commons, and it is expected to go through the House of Lords early in the new year. Power and money to build up to £20,000,000 worth of temporary houses and planning for tens of thousands of permanent houses have been given to Mr Aneurin Sevan and Mr G. Tomlinsc.'i by the Building Materials and Housing Bill. Both Houses accepted the Washington monetary agreement and the Bretton Woods Bill, Other Bills “ on the way ” include measures for the decasualisation of dock labour, the reorganisation of the trunk roads system, the control of rents of furnished houses, the Coal Nationalisation Bill, and the national insurance scheme. It has been an arduous period for members of the House of Commons, and one in which the Government has not lost prestige. In spite of criticisms, which are inevitable, the country as a whole is still in a mood of giving the Labour Party a fair trial, and an interesting fact is that the Conser- . vatives’ motion of censure did the Government good rather than .harm, and that it was the Conservatives who emerged crestfallen. Mr Attlee lias increased his prestige. He is generally regarded as “ businesslike,” and if there were doubts about his possessing colour it was dispelled when he answered Mr Churchill during the censure debate in the speech that will long be remembered by all who heard it. Other personalities who impressed the House are Mr Ernest Bevin, Mr Hugh Dalton, and Mr Aneurin Bevan, while Mr Tomlinson and Mr A. J. Barnes are regarded as having shown the most _ ability among the other .Ministers, with Mr A. Edwards and Mr Strachey prominent among the junior Ministers. Mr Herbert Morrison occupies a place to himself as being the most capable leader of the House, and is next to Mr Attlee in line of succession to the Prime Ministership. Sir Stafford Cripps has also made an impression, particularly for his attack on Mr Churchill during the censure debate. DIFFICULT FOR CHURCHILL. It has been a difficult period for Mr Churchill, once more back in the Opposition after five glorious years of undisputed power and influence. The leading of a defeated and divided party cannot have been a role to hie liking. Though carrying immense prestige and weight, his voice ha 6 not been the oracle it was, though his place is assured in every British heart. There is much speculation on his future at .present, in view of his intended protracted holiday in Miami. Questions are being asked whether he will retire from the leadership of the Conservative Party when he returns to England. The answer can he only guesswork, but it is considered that Mr Churchill will not make up his mind until he gets back, which may-not be for three months, and by then much will have happened in international aflairs and domestic politics to help him to make a decision. MR EDEN’S FUTURE.

Mr Anthony Eden’s future is also being debated at present. There is an opinion that he is not forceful enough to be leader of the Opposition—one critic remarked that he has “ appeasement in his bones "■ — while his name is also mentioned for the secretary-generalship of the United Nations Organisation. Mr Eden is said, however, to have intimated wi-

vately that he has no intention of leaving party politics, and in the meantime, while Mr Churchill is away, he will lead the Opposition. Among Conservative back-benchers who distinguished themselves in recent weeks is Mr (Robert Boothby, whose remark during the loan debate: “You did not have a mandate to sell the British Umpire for a packet of cigarettes.” is regarded as effective, if melodramatic. He has personality and is a good speaker. Labour members left Westminster for the Christmas holiday with the knowledge that, while the Government lias made a good start, the hardest and heaviest -of its work yet lies ahead. Britain lias still a long way to go before it is back on its feet, economically and • financially., and while much groundwork has been done, the Government has still to produce results, particularly regarding bousing. If there has been any disappointment, it is that efforts have so far failed to secure increased newapaper allocation, which would allow for fuller parliamentary reports in the dailies. But this, it is realised, depends to a great extent on the outcome of the currency arrangements, and _ an improvement in the situation is looked for, probably towards the middle of next year.