POVERTY AND IDLENESS

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1941, Page 6

POVERTY AND IDLENESS

BRITAIN’S SOCIAL' EVILS Intolerable —After the War [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, January 13. Mr Arthur Greenwood, in a broadcast speech dealing with Hitler's recent contemptuous references to the living conditions in Britain, said he admitted there were defects in the British social structure as there were in Germany. “The fundamental point of difference,” he said r “between us and Hitiei is that we have fought our way out of feudalism towards freedom, whilst he wishes to impose a new feudalism. We now have developed a democratic system guided by public conscience, which, irrespective of creed or party, has time and again asserted itself against the social evils which impaired the free working of democracy, and one led by people, within the limitations of their own experience, who derive their powers from the people.” Speaking as having been charged with special responsibilities with regard to reconstruction, he continued, that construction work should lead to co-operation and friendship, better communications, proper use of the world’s material resources, prosperity in which ail should share, and a world free from disease and social evils.

"The task of creating conditions of the new world did not rest on our shoulders alone. There must be great and continuing co-operative effort in which all who were willing played their part. But Britain would take a rightful place in forcing these efforts. Peoples of th e British Commonwealth of Nations must endeavour’ to show that the brotherhood was established in the wider world. W ( > had our common problems and our great responsibilities to which the Commonwealth would turn its mind with determination and hope. Dealing with the problems before his own country, Mr Greenwood continued: “Britain, after the war. will not tolerate in_her midst the spectale of abject poverty, nor the existence, of that problem of industry which in the past has not been solved—the scourge of ’ unemployment. It will, I believe, be the pride, of the nation to succour its citizens who during the war, or afterwards, fall on evil days, through reason of disability, disease, and old age. We shall look forward to developing our educational system and social services. We arc planning to get rid oj ugliness in our towns, and build a fairer Britain, and replace the hovels that remained by worthy homes. These things We can' do if w.'J harness the material resources at our hand to the brain and brawn and practical sagacity of our people.”