WAR-TIME BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 3

WAR-TIME BRITAIN

INDUSTRIAL LABOUR PROBLEMS THEATRE BUSINESS BOOMING LONDON, Aug. 9. The British have accepted a multitude of war-time changes from ordinary, everyday life without demur, regarding them as necessary to help in winning the war; but recently the public have shown prickly opposition under a hitherto imperturbable humour. Public opinion has definitely opposed proposals directing boys of 16 to 18 to industry, including coal mining, and also the calling up of women of 45 to 50 for war work. The reason lor these proposals, of course, is that the nation’s reserves of labour have run dry. While the public recognises this, it opposes the proposals, partly on principle and partly because it maintains that the fullest use is not being made of the labour already mobilised. The calling up of middle-aged women is particularly distasteful to many, because war has not decreased the drudgery of housewives, with lack of help for mothers, and added irksome necessities such as queueing for shopping. Another instance of public opposition was against the suggested reduction of clothes rationing. This spirit of the public is partly due to four years of war and partly to better war news, which has even induced some rosy optimists to lay bets that Germany will be defeated by Christmas. The reverse side of the coin is the public’s appetite for entertainment. If there are shopping queues, there also are kinema theatre queues, and amazing queues for trains by holiday-taking crowds, in spite of all official requests to the contrary. London’s week-end crowds are almost reminiscent of the Jubilee and Coronation throngs. In addition to- the weekly Influx of members of the forces on pleasure bent, many people from the suburbs and the country stream In, searching for shopping bargains and entertainment. Piccadilly, it is stated, has turned into an Eldorado for caterers (some of whom charge fantastic prices) and amusement houses. August, usually regarded as the worst month for the show business, has produced the biggest boom for over 30 years in London, stated perhaps to be probably the greatest In the history of the London show business.

Some theatres form queues at 9.30 a.m. for matinees, and the takings range between £2OOO and £6OOO a week at the different theatres, 40 per cent, of which the Government takes in taxes. It will be interesting to observe the trend of discussion against the renewal of black-out hours. At present the two hours of summer time are in force, but next Sunday decks will be put back one hour. Many are of opinion that there should not be any alteration, as the blackout is a serious hindrance to industry, while it certainly has a depressing effect on the average Individual.