MORRISON PUTS ISSUES CLEARLY BEFORE BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1947, Page 5

MORRISON PUTS ISSUES CLEARLY BEFORE BRITAIN

(Rec. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 12. Mr Herbert Morrison today warned a Labour Party meeting at Smethwick that the success of the Government’s economic plan depended upon the gap between the prices of exports and imports not widening further. If the gap did widen, bigger import cuts would be necessary or the export targets must be set higher or both.

Everyone, he added, must be much more conscious of the supreme importance of good management, high output, and efficient methods. Unless all these were quickly improved, thus lowering costs, the impact of foreign competition in the export markets would soon shake the national economy to the foundations. Britain was now facing the same problem as the Russians had been facing ever since the revolution—the choice between the easy way and the hard way, the easing of immediate burdens.at home’ at the cost of the future or the building of a . firm foundation for the future. The. Russians at least had a choice. Britain really had none. “If we do not cut our plans and projects at home in order to put exports first,” he said, “we shall not merely risk our future national greatness but also go hungry or unemployed for lack of raw materials or both.”