MOVE TO SWING BRITISH TRADE UNION OPINION

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1949, Page 5

MOVE TO SWING BRITISH TRADE UNION OPINION

LONDON, Sept 23 (Rec. 11.10 a . m .) —The Government did not devalue the pound because it was anxious to or sought to do it, the Lord President of the Council, Mr Herbert Morrison, told a Labour rally at Filey, Yorkshire today. “Devaluation and the consequent export problems are a test of working class statesmanship at this juncture of our history. If working class is public spirited and rises to the occasion, it will be a great thing for the well-being of our country. To maintain full employment we must keep our costs low, particularly in the export trade. It is a choice between keeping costs down or returning to the horrors of substantial unemployment.” Mr Morrison expressed the Government’s thanks for the attitude adopted towards devaluation by the trades Union congress General Council and the majority of the trade union leaders. “Hot Gospelling” There had never been any hesitation in the mind of the Government that the request that Parliament should be recalled should be answered in the affirmative. “I feel sure the Government will come out of the I debate with credit and that the country will be all the better for the debate having taken place,” he added. The Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, will follow up in the Government’s “hot gospelling” campaign for devaluation in an address at a rally at Landudno, North Wajles tomorrow, Sir Stafford. Cripps will meet the Trades Union Congress leaders at a private meeting on Monday. Political observers think Sir Stafford Cripps can swing the T.U.C. leaders behind the Government, but they point cut that the congress, having only advisory functions, cannot apply sanctions to its 8.000.000 membership. i Reuters says that Mr Churchill and i his supporters might in certain cir- ' cumstances move a vote of censure against the Government on the general handling of its economic policy when Parliament meets next week. However, it is thought that they would not formally condemn the Government for devaluing sterling. It is believed that Mr Attlee, who will probably wind up the debate on September 29, will emphasise to his supporters that they are voting on what is tantamount to a motion of confidence, and it is hoped this will persuade the Labour back-benchers, who are critical of devaluation because it raises the cost of living, to vote solidly with the Government. The House of Lords will debate devaluation on Tuesday and Wednesday. Independent Group The Independent Labour Group in the Commons —Messrs D. N. Pritt, John Platts-Mills, Letter Hutchinson, Leslie Solley and K. Zilliacus — today gave notice of a motion urging the Government to prevent a rise in the cost of living by ending the cold war, ending arms expenditure and by trading with Russia. Their motion said: “Devaluation will not help to bridge the dollar gap will actually create unemployment instead of preventing it, and will inevitably lead to a substantial rise in the cost of living.” The steps suggested, said the motion, “alone can save the country from the disasters that are threatening.”