Labour M.P/s Urge Cuts In Defence, End Conscription

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23083, 22 October 1949, Page 5

Labour M.P/s Urge Cuts In Defence, End Conscription

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.)

(10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 21. Three Labour members of Parliament have tabled a motion calling for big cuts in the defence services and the abolition of conscription.

The members are Mr. Ellis Smith, former Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, Mr. Harold Davies, and Mr. Thomas Brown.

Their motion, asks that the Government revise its defence policy, which requires an approximate expenditure of £800,000,000 this financial year and requests big reductions in expenditure oil military equipment and administration.

Also requested in the motion are:— 1. That economies be made in the national debt and consolidated fund services, Foreign Office, diplomatic service, Home Office. Law and Jus-

tice. 2. That reasonable reductions be made jn the capital programme and econo-

mies in iocal ana national adminis-

tration. 3. That there be no reduction in the housing programme or social ser-

vices. 4. That a new economic policy be prepared to meet urgent and longterm needs, make a bigger contribution to extending world trade and co-operation and a quickened development of the Commonwealth and‘Britain’s agricultural policy.

5. That the Government apply the Roosevelt and Truman proposals for paying for the last war. New Era of Spartan Living

The Cabinet this morning gave final approval to post-devaluation economy plan on which the Government leaders have been working continuously for over a week, says Reuter’s political correspondent. The economy programme which Mr. Attlee will announce in the House of Commons on Monday will inaugurate a fresh era of Spartan living for the British citizen.

The retrenchment drive has a range over every Government service, including defence. It is expected that the economy axe will fall on most departments. Four Ministers who are not members of the Cabinet were specially invited to attend the meeting. They were Mr. J. Strachey, whose advice will be needed on cuts in food imports from America, Mr. H. Gaitskell, who is concerned with petrol purchases, Mr. A. Barnes, who would have to undertake transport economies, and the Works Minister, Mr. C. Key, whose presence suggests cuts in Government building. Objections by Some Ministers Although it is known that some departmental Ministers stoutly resisted the new economy cuts, they will be asked to approve at today's Cabinet meeting. There is nothing to suggest that the division of opinion is such as to cause Cabinet resignations. The Government spokesman admitted to the Daily Mail’s diplomatic correspondent that there had been fierce discussions while the new economy programme was being formulated, but he added that everything now was settled and there would be no resignations. The correspondent said Mr. Morrison is believed to have been among the foremost of those Ministers demanding that the Government should produce a policy of realism to meet the needs of the time.