LIBERAL VIGOUR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21633, 9 February 1945, Page 6

LIBERAL VIGOUR

IMPENDING ISSUE BEVERIDGE PROPOSALS U.K. DOMESTIC POLITICS (9 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 8. The Liberal Party's conlerence las. week served to heighten interest m parly politics and, as Mr. Churchill lias described it, the “impending election.” The conference coincided with Ihe party's launching of an appeal for an election fund of £2I)O,UUU and Liberals are now reporting that inis met with a gratifying response, while Sir Percy Harris slated that candidates were oifering themselves so fast that he can supply any division which has the necessary organisation.

The revival —for that is what it is—of tne Liberal Party is being watcheu wiui great interest, ft is certain that in Lady Violet Bonham-Carter it has a vigorous leader, but critics express the opinion that its few chief figures are not big enough to attract the masses, nor have they achieved the ■•common touch.” Much interest at the conference attached to the position of Sir William Beveridge and it was expected at one time that there might oe a storm among older ana younger members of the party over iiis views on full employment in a free society. IBs resolution, however, readily was accepted by the conference. The next item of interest m Britain’s political life will be the conference of the Conservative Party winch is being held on March 14-15. Mr. Churchill, it is reported, will be speaking on the second day. A Ministry of Labour gazelle reports that Britain has maintained Us rising trend of wages rates for the eleventh successive year. Since the war wage rates have increased by over £10,000,000 weekly. Some groups of workers have received no fewer than live increases, while others have received none. The average increase in rates has been slightly less than as each time. in 1944 Britain had the smallest number of unemployed on record, namely, 85,392. Much interest is being paid to tne reinstatement in their jobs ol men and women discharged from the services, it is stated that of several thousands discharged in the five months period ending December 31, only 82 persons claimed that their rights under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment

Act had been denied them. in 42 cases the decision of the Reinstatement Committee was that default had been made by the former employer under the Act. Thirty former employers were ordered to make work available for the applicant and four were ordered to pay compensation, n.

eight cases the former employer wa: ordered to make work available ant -u pay compensation.