CONDITIONS ABROAD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 15, 15 December 1945, Page 7

CONDITIONS ABROAD

AIR WEBB’S .IMPRESSIONS

(Press Assn) WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. In an interview this evening, the Minister' of Labour (Air Webb), who has returned from attending the International Labour Organisation' Conference in Paris, said that over 46 nations were represented at the gathering. There were about SUO delegates and advisers, great unanimity being expressed by the representatives of all countries, especially those from the downtrodden and oppressed, who were looking to Britain and the Democracies for their salvation. He said that Europe was generally in a‘very unsettled state, caused largely by the shortage of lood. The conference was strictly one of progress and unanimity. The 1.L.0. was destined to play an important part in the development of world peace. The delegates felt that now was the hour for unity of a progressive kind. He felt that the contribution of the 1.L.0. would be of immense value to the United Nations’ Organisation. • All the delegates were most emphatic that industrial unrest would prove fatal to recovery from the effects of the war and were appealing to all their affiliated bodies to engender a spirit of individual unity. He believed the organisation had the nucleus of great power for good. Franco was in a bad way and there seemed an uncertain spirit everywhere on the Continent. However, he was confident —with such body as the 1.L.0. to engender a spirit of fraternity—the nations would be able to overcome their immediate difficulties. CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

In all his travels he felt that England stood out as a beacon light to the rest of the world for progress and peace. was going ahead in Britain. Rationing was very strict and food was generally short. In the House of Commons he heard Mr Arthur Greenwood proclaim that essential commodities would be either owned or controlled by the State. The speeches of members and. Cabinet Minsters made it clear that, in order to overcome her difficulties, Britain would have to adopt. measures for socialisation in connection with monopolies and encourage the small business class to share in the distribution to a greater extent. The Ministers were satisfied that monopolies were responsible to a large extent for unemployment and the general economic chaos. The tone of England seemed to be one of progress and sucli tilings as the taking over of the liank of England met with little opposition, while the statement that the mines were to be taken over bv the nation to produce and conserve coal was greeted in the House with cheers, both sides of the House being largely in agreement on this proposal. “New Zealand’s soldiers, sailors ana airmen had created a wonderful impression in every country I visited, said Mr Webb.