LONDON TOPICS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20863, 15 August 1942, Page 5

LONDON TOPICS

VARIEDJSSUES LABOUR IN DECLINE "SLUSH” MUSIC BAN (Special Correspondent.) (3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. Parliament in recess, the black-out now 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m., compulsory fire-watching for women, and the 8.8.C.’s ban on “slush” music are among the domestic topics of conversation in Britain to-day. Coincident with Parliament going into recess, the Manchester Guardian commented on the elderliness of the members of the Labour Party who are in the House of Commons. Fewer than one-fifth of the members are under ’SO years of ago, one reason being the Trades Union Congress preference for electing trade union officials of long experience. This has led to the comment that unless the Labour Party tackles the question ol the selection of younger Parliamentary candidates, its political existence is threatened. An article in the New Statesman and Nation expressed the opinion that the future of the Labour Party was among the major uncertainties of British polities. “There are no serious observers of its life who are not aware of its critical conditions,” it says. "Its loss of membership is heavy and its power to recruit youth tragically small, it has an ageing party in the House; hardly more than four or five of its leaders have any appeal in the country. ‘lnadequate Leadership” “The bulk of candidates for the next election are middle-aged men and women who have lost 'the first fine careless rapture’ of crusading. It does not possess a dozen men who could fill a hall in any large centre of production. The second party in in the State is openly discussed as a failure.” Enquiring what has hapened, the article suggests that the party s leadership is gravely inadequate, that it has accepted a position of tragic subordination in the present Government while it has suffered in public opinion through its high-age composition. Setting back the clocks one hour meant that the long twilight vanished and that black-out curtins are in use again. It is coincidence that London has had several alerts, chiefly in the early hours of the morning, recalling the blitz. Compulsory fire-watching for women reflects the call-up of men for the forces. The chief reaction so far is that women should receive the same compensation as men if they are injured, which does not apply at present. The Germans recently dropped a hew phosphorous incendiary bomb causing injuries. As a result, people are warned that if phospphorous spatters them to keep it damp until given first aid. They must not apply grease or ointment. New Waterloo Bridge The 8.8. C. recently decided ..that drooling sentimental songs should no longer pc broadcast, but be replaced by bright, cheerful tunes—a lead incidentally followed in America. There has been a minor controversy as to what constitutes “slush” music. The Publishers’ Association has asked for a definition. They also expect a boom in old ballads. There was no ceremony for the opening of tire new Waterloo Bridge in London and where in peace time there would- have been an array of officialdom there was merely a flurry of half a dozen cyclists followed by taxi-cabs, but the workmen reserved their cheers for the first bus-load of office workers. The bridge will shortly be open for pedestrians. With large numbers of Americans seen daily the people of Britain are now more conscious that at any time of the war of America. Americans of all forces are now quite a common sight, while the newspapers report their activities. United States bomber units shortly will be operating. while fighter units have already made contact with the Germans.