BRITAIN'S STRUGGLE

Evening Star, Issue 26028, 17 February 1947, Page 7

BRITAIN'S STRUGGLE

Increased, Production

Paramount

"No Time for Easy Living"

(Reci 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, February 10.

Mr J. W. Belcher, Parliamentary Secretary to the • Board of Trade, speaking at Yorkshire,, said Britain vras racing something far more serious than the present temporary crisis. It was vain to hope to maintain even the present living standards unless the export target was reached. It would be le6& than honest to say that at present there could be any big advaueo in workers’ rewards from industry.

“ This is no time for easy living. I appeal to the trade unions to postpone their demands for shorter hours and higher wages, which from their own viewpoint would be illusory. Increased production is paramount.”

Mr Philip NoeUßaker (Minister of Civil Aviation), speaking at Derby, said: “ We are not down and out. it is a dangerous and unjust fallacy to say that the coal crisis is a smashing blow to the Labour Government and economic reconstruction. Unemployment will mean loss in Britain’s national resources, but the workers

are resolved to make good the loss. There will be no Government crisis, no breakdown of British reconstruction nor of fuel resources. This crisis can be taken by the nation as a warning. Six years of total war and decades of Tory rule and private enterprise have left the Labour Government with a more formidable task than appeared at first sight.” Mr Horner, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, told a London meeting that unless Britain got more miners the crisis, would not only continue but would be exaggerated next winter. Britain, without miners, could not maintain a decent standard of life.

“ We want free men, not slaves—not Polish emigres nor displaced persons in the mines,” he saidi. “ The Government would do well to give the miners’ labour proper valuation. When we have enough miners you will know the attractions are sufficient. We want something for our wives and families. Why not nylons, which are made from coal and water, for miners’ wives? ”