Challenge To Britons

Northern Advocate, 13 September 1947, Page 5

Challenge To Britons

“The gravity of the situation is greater than ever before. “This is not some short-lived or temporary setback.

“It is a deep-seated economic upset and it will be a matter of years, not months, before we find a way through our difficulties.

“The only way in which we can shorten that period is by our own efforts.

“This may sound a gloomy forecast, but it is a forecast full of challenge to our energy and resourcefulness.

“With the clear aim of winning a better, more stable and happier economic state, we are determined to maintain our independence as a world power, and that determination must translate itself into the greatest and most sustained individual effort in whatever job we can must usefully do for our country."

Tables of statisitics distributed at the meeting show the percentages above 1938 exports which industries are expected to attain, firstly by the middle of 1948, and secondly by the end of 1948.

Outstanding figures are as follows.

Metals and metal products—implements and instruments, 202 and 212; electrical apparatus, 224 and 254; vehicles, 258 and 316. Textiles and clothing: Cotton, 56 and 69; woollens and worsteds, 146 and 182; rayon and silk, 180 and 245. Other manufactures: Footwear, 221 and 295; chemicals, 188 and 206; pottery, glass, etc., 194, 223; leather and leather goods. 125 and 138; paper and paper goods, 116 and 140; rubber manufactures, 340 and 425. Sir Clive Baillieu. acting president of the Federation of British Industries, who spoke after Sir Stafford, said the plan meant that Britain would have to export a quarter of everything she made.

Britain had exported a quarter of her production in 1924, but one-fifth of the exports had then been coal and cteel, and another fifth cotton goods. A great deal would now have to be made up by other industries in a relatively new export market and many products would have to be extensively adapted to new requirements. It was no good expecting to achieve

export totals with high-quality goods alone.

It was the necessities of life which could be sold these days. He commented that Sir Stafford had not been able to give details of cuts in capital expenditure, although it would be these which would largely make possible the release of materials and manpower for more essential export trading. The general secretary of the Trades Union Council (Mr Vincent Tewson), speaking at the meeting, said it was no use talking about joint consultations in industry unless there was a change in attitude in certain quarters.

The pattern of British industry would now have to be distorted, as it had been during the war. The trade unions would see how the Cripps scheme could be made to work, rather than make it the basis of controversy.

The president of the National Union of Manufacturers (Sir Patrick Hannon) said Mr Ernest Bevin had done an incalculable service to Imperial relations by his reference to closer cooperation in the Commonwealth.

Sir Patrick was critical of the Government for not calling the meeting a year ago.

Loud cheers and some shouts greeted his appeal to the Government to leave the steel industry alone and let private enterprise retain management. Sir Stafford Cripps told a Press conference, following his speech, that there was no question of the Government restricting migration. The restriction was almost automatic, through lack of transport, but the Government did not wish to stop people if they wanted to go abroad for life. Replying to a question whether cars, which were exported and not sold, would be allowed to come back to the British market, Sir Stafford said: “We are not going on the principle that things which cannot be sold are going back on the home market. “That is too easy.” Manufacturers would not get steel if they could not sell cars.

Sweden Cuts Imports (Rec. 11.30.) STOCKHOLM, Sept. 12. New import cuts to conserve Sweden’s slocks of foreign currencies and gold were officially announced today.