BRITAIN WILL “MUDDLE THROUGH” IS GENERAL FEELING

Evening Star, Issue 26184, 20 August 1947, Page 4

BRITAIN WILL “MUDDLE THROUGH” IS GENERAL FEELING

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, 7 August' 20. “ Everyone in Britain was shockingly depressed after hearing the Prime Minister’s speech on the economic crisis, but at present they are making the best of it and are enjoying the best summer Britain has had for years,” said Mr lan Coster, columnist for the ‘ Daily Mail ’ of London, when he arrived from Sydney by flying boat. Mr Attlee’s speech had made a,poor impression, said Mr Coster, but it was a general conviction that Britnin would “ muddle ' through ” somehow. The, Government still had the full support of the - workers in the heavy industries and the' miners, on whom Britain; was depending so much,, and although Mi: Attlee was not the colourful leader Mr Churchill had been, he was a good organiser -andi would probably weather the present criticism. Although he had not hesfrd of the complaints on housing and working conditions made by the English immigrants who recently, left New Zealand, Mr Coster said in his experience in London four out of five people -expressed envy on learning of his visit, to New Zealand. In spite of some criticism; New Zealand’s name still stood high in Britain. Mr Coster,, who is. a New Zealander, left this country 18 years ago on a trip, to Europe, which he expected to tqjke one year, and this/ is his first visit home since then. During the war he was a lieutenant in a landing craft in the (Royal Marines, and served in South-easi Asia and Batavia. He. was one of the editors of ‘ Seac,’ the successful forces’ newspaper published under Earl Mountbatten’s command in the South-east Asia\ theatre. _ •' Mr Coster said he would continue to write his column for the ‘ Daily Mail’ while in New Zealand, as he only had one, month’s leave.