Britain Enjoying Bright Spell

Evening Star, Issue 26041, 4 March 1947, Page 7

Britain Enjoying Bright Spell

(From A. W. Mitchell, N.Z

(Rec. 10.45 aim.) - ; LONDON, March 3. .The sun is shining in. Britain for the third day in succession, and the country is enjoying the brightest; though not the warmest. . spell since last ( August. There are no longer industrial ' power cats in any part of Britain, hundreds of thousands of people are returning to work for the first time in three weeks, and the distribution of coal to all parts of the country is improving. That, briefly, is the better side .of the news of Britain’s, fuel .crisis. It is,- however, only one side of the coin. Weather forecasts indicate that the cold spell may continue Until April. Though indus- - try is no longer rationed for electricity, little more than a ragged start can be made to get production moving again^' During the next two weeks most industries will be getting only 30 per cent, of their solid fuel requirements. In ' actual fact, . although the most critical phase of . the fuel crisis has passed, the emergency is not yet ended. The general position will remain difficult during the next, fortnight, and meantime a scheme must be settled for rationing domestic coal, electricity, and gas, and a decision must be taken on night work. Electricity for houses, shops, offices, theatres, and cinemas is still restricted, ■ and a partial black-out remains in the streets. While there is reliet that industry is starting up again, the three weeks’ crisis—which (Mr Shinwell said might ■ not last more than three or four days —has left Britain economically sick, and In a frame of mind similar to the hesitant introspection of a patient who has not yet got a firm foot on the path to convalescence. There are "two opinions about Britain’s chances of economic recovery. ; One is that,the"character of her people; which manifested itself so plainly, during the war, will assert itself and carry the country through.

HEADING FOR CRISIS. i .. The other is that Britain is heading /for an economic crisis and that the • sooner it is met and grappled with and a fresh start made the better it will be for the country. ■ Those who believe that the character of ,the people will - pull Britain round point as an instance to the increased output in, the mines in recent weeks and the fine work that has gone into the distribution of coal - during the worst of the. weather. They /■■■ hope that the. new spirit in the mines and with incentives. offered Jo miners, who it is declared are' receiving every-

Industry Starting Up Again

Country Left Economically Sick

P.A. Special Correspondent.)

mic staff to the preparation of its four-year plan with two White Papers for background, has lost a large slice of public confidence at a time when it was most nepded. The song which Mr Dalton de-

clared recently to be in his heart is sounding/pretty fiat to a wide section of thp community. The almost provocative confldence of the Labour Party in the House of Commons, which at one time was barracking the Opposition to be tougher, is reported to have been shocked into critical sdif-analy* sis.

Trade unions, though apparently unable to discipline their members and prevent unofficial strikes, are still Eressing for more pay and shorter ours in spite of Ministerial disapproval; and many fear they exert undue influence o’n the Government. NIGHT WORK.

In addition to two and three weeks’ unemployment the working man is'also being asked to work at night, and though some factories are reported to be instituting night shifts there is a good deal of opposition to the changeover. Though night work is advocated to ease the Toad on the power stations and prevent renewed electricity cuts, the idea is combated both on personal f rounds and also because a rise in prouction costs will rosillt. ‘

thing for which they are asking, Britain will secure her target, which at the moment is the. most important of all. They also believe that the nation, after paying little noticeable attention to Government exhortations, edicts, proclamations, appeals, plans, promises, and reproofs during the past 18 months, will now appreciate fully the country’s economic danger and act accordingly. Those who believe that a crisis seems inevitable emphasise that the Government’s . bureaucratic planning failed either, to avoid or overcome .the fuel crisis, raped the rate at which the American and Canadian loans are being used and the possibility that with the temporary breakdown of production there will still be fewer consumer goods and a consequent renewed surge of inflation. They also believe in spite of aH the social benefits promised the working population by the Labour Government that it is not yet realised that greater production must accompany shorter hours and higher wages and that this realisation will not come until there has been a crisis. ONLY TIME WILL tELL. Only time can tell which of the two opinions is the more accurate. : In'the meantime the Government, which has turned its econo-