E WEATHER AGAIN

Northern Advocate, 2 April 1946, Page 3

E WEATHER AGAIN

(Special. 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, April 1

meets India; Bruce Woodcock meets Freddie Mills for the British heavyweight boxing championship in London on June 4, and the greyhound racing Derby will be at the White City, London, on June 29. Another event not exactly classified as “sporting” in which public interest is sharpening, is Budget Day, on Tuesday next. It is hoped that Dr. Dalton will announce reductions in taxation to encourage both the wage-earner and industry. But, generally speaking, the Budget is awaited with more pessimism than optimism in business circles. Expenditure for the coming year is estimated at £3,850,000.000 and revenue at £2,800.000,000, leaving a deficit of £1,000,000,000 to £1,500,000,000 to be faced, which will have to be covered by borrowing.

INFLATIONARY TENDENCIES Dr Dalton's problems are to restrain inflationary tendencies, yet give all the financial encouragement he can to the Government’s production drive. The latest move in this drive is the Trades Union Congress call to its members for utmost support. It follows a recent conference between trade union executives and Cabinet Ministers. The TUC also suggested stepping-up of demobilisation, appeals to women to remain in or return to industry, skilled men over 65 to be encouraged to remain in industry, employment of prisoners of wax - , establishment of national advisory committees and examination of taxation on overtime earnings.

It is understood that more labour controls are to be removed and only a small number of industries, mostly concerned with food and housing, will continue under control. The TUC’s suppoid comes at a time when the Government is continuing to experience a difficult period. The latest housing figures are not as good as hoped, and during February'rose by only 15,000.

ACID COMMENT Only 2000 of those were built by local authorities, which are not showing the vigour anticipated of. them. The Government also had announced an acute shortage of bricks and other essential building materials. The Ministry’s of Foods’ handling of food announcements and repudiation of forecasts, together with Sir Ben Smith’s unfortunate manner in

the House of Commons, have also given ground for criticism.

One acid comment on Sir Ben Smith is that the Parliamentary Labour Party feels that he should be rewarded for his efforts by a peerage. In addition, Lancashire is angry at the Government’s decision to close the Liverpool cotton market. The decision is described by Lord Woolton as “murder,” and by the Socialist Lord Mayor of Liverpool as the ruination of Liverpool trade. Uncertainty still hangs over the question whether iron and steel are to be nationalised. The most common complaint heard in business circles today is that Government actions are promoting indecision and hampering the trade drive at the very time when the world is crying out for British goods.

BEVIN CLEARS AIR Inside-the Labour Party Mr Bevln has cleared the air on his foreign affairs policy, which has been endorsed by the Party as a whole. Mr Bevin, indeed, exudes confidence these days, and indicates that he is more concerned over the world’s food position than the troubles of the Security Council.

Though thefe have been adverse reports about his health, he is, in fact, fit, if tired.

While the Government is experiencing heavy weather, the Conservative Party has been called up by Mr R. A. Butler, who increasingly occupies 3 more importance place in its higher circles, to reorganise completely its social structure and adapt itself to changing circumstances. Mr Butler foreshadows a life or death struggle with Communism and advocates the intensive use of Conservative discussion groups in remoulding the party.