BRITISH ROUNDABOUT

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 8

BRITISH ROUNDABOUT

BUDGET OF TOPICAL NEWS APPROACH OF ROYAL SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) LONDON, November 21. Mrs Odette Sanson, who was decorated with the George Cross and M.B.E. by the King for gallantry in working for the French (Resistance Movement, is to marry Captain Peter Churchill, who was her commanding officer when she co-operated with the French underground. She resisted brutal torture by the Gestapo and refused to disclose the names of her associates, including Captain Churchill. Captain Churchill himself was awarded the D.S.O. for his part in these operations, and was presented with his decoration at the same investiture. Reports reaching London suggest that the absence of Generalissimo Stalin from the celebration of the .anniversary of the October revolution was due to the Soviet leader’s indisposition. His son, who is a Soviet official, is reported to have informed at least one foreign diplomat. that his father had been ill and was recuperating at his villa at Sochi, on the Crimean Riviera. The King and Queen, with the Princesses, inspected the coaches for their tour of South Africa when they visited Birmingham. There will be eight coaches for the Royal train, four of which are for the Royal Family’s personal use. They are in cream and gold, with the royal crest on the side. These and four more coaches were built to the order of the South African Government. Two will be for the use of FieldMarshal Smuts.

At Portsmouth, Captain W. G. Agnew is completing the full complement of H.M.S. Vanguard for the royal tour. She will sail on December 4 for a “ shakedown ” cruise and will visit Gibraltar bc n - e returning for Christmas leave. The Royal apartments will then be furnished a:.d decorated. For the convenience of the Royal party, a special platform has been made on the top of B turret, in the forepart of the ship, which is intended for use when tho Vanguard is entering or leaving a harbour. BRITAIN’S BOOM TOWN. Southampton is claiming the title of Britain’s boom town of 1946. It Is No. 1 passenger port, with large passenger liners periodically calling. They include the Queen Elizabeth, the Aquitania, the America, the Washington, and the John Ericson, which bring in £20,000 in dock fees alone. The hotels are overflowing with friends meeting passengers, shopkeepers find that demand exceeds supplies, and dockers’ pay packets are swollen with ov; time. Unemployment is the lowest in the country and savings are taking a sharp climb. Because of the steel shortage, the motor car industry is considering possible alternatives to the present type of car body. Aluminium is favoured though it could not be used as a direct substitute for steel, and new designs, tools, methods, and technique would be needed, with time for development. PRINCESS NEARING MAJORITY. A special present for her twentyfirst birthday will be given to Princess Elizabeth by hundreds of men and women on the staff of Buckingham Palace, Sandringham, Windsor, and Balmoral who have served her since childhood. A committee appointed by the Lord Chamberlain will choose the fift, probably a brooch,, and everyody from staff 1 cleaners to high officials will be able to contribute, with a limit of 2s Gd each. .The presentation may be made before the Princess leaves for South Africa, possibly at the Buckingham Palace staff dance in January- . . The totalisator takings for Britain during the 1946 racing season are expected to exceed £14,000,000,, of which the owners may benefit to the extent of £500,000. There are about 40,000 owners throughout the country who find the cost of transporting racehorses to meetings very high. At present they receive a 50 per cent, contribution if the journey is between 29 and 99 miles, and £5 for journeys over 90 miles. Nothing is given for distances.under 20 miles. COSMETICS CONTROL. Though many sections of British industry are arguing that controls should be lifted, this does not apply to the cosmetics trade. Mr L. J. Matchan, its leading figure, declared that if controls on cosmetic manufaeure were lifted now it would ruin the future of the industry, both in the home and export markets. “It must be a great temptation to Ministers anxious to increase supplies in shops to take off controls,” he said. “We ask them not to do so yet in the interest of the nation until we reach the stage where good competitive trading is possible.” The cosmetics industry will export £3,000,000 worth of goods this year. All types, however, will cost British women one-fifth to oue-third more next year, due to the extra cost of production. As there is a 100 per cent, purchase tax, women will pay proportionately more tax, which is expected to yield £500,000 extra for the Exchequer. DRAWING ON LOAN. Mr W. G. Hall, financial secretary to the Treasury, stated in the House of Commons, that Britain had drawn £150,000,000 of the American loan, including about £15,250,000 for American films. It is understood that, owing to rising prices in America, the value of the loan to Britain will be depreciated by between 10 and 15 per cent.