ADEQUACY DOUBTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26416, 21 March 1947, Page 5

ADEQUACY DOUBTED

WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 19. Moving in the House of Lords a resolution deploring the inadequacy of the Government’s measures to remedy the economic situation, Lord Renneil said that the White Paper contained no plan, scarcely even a policy, and there was a lack of unified policy between Government departments. Ministers should co-ordinate their plans, and Cabinet should decide, he said.

Lord Swinton said that Empire trading would become more important than ever when the critical date, July 15, was reached, when sterling balances would become liquid.

1 The Archbishop of York said that, unless production increased, Britain’s international importance would gradually fade. He believed the crisis was largely moral and spiritual, and that there was widespread apathy throughout the country. “We are a tired nation, exhausted by two great wars, disappointed and disillusioned, and many people underfed. It requires great inducement to get people to do what they have to do. to-day,” he said, and added that the Government should appeal to the people’s sense of duty fo the whole community. Lord Pethick-Lawrence, referring to the Government’s cheap-money policy, said that with the National Debt at £25,000,000,000 it was essential to have a low rate of interest if Britain were to meet her obligations. The Government’s policy was to secure a full return for exports in goods, gold, or -currencies convertible into dollars. Referring to the coal shortage, Lord Pethick-Lawrence said the Government realised that the production, of 200,000,000 tons a year mentioned in the White Paper was too low for their needs. The Government inserted a realistic figure, and would be happy if it were surpassed. It would have been a disastrous policy to put Poles in the mines before the miners were willing to accept them.’ A start would be made by training 500 Poles each week. Lord Quibell criticised trade unions which banned the bonus system and piecework. He said he got men to lay 1000 bricks daily under the bonus system, whereas men on day work laid onlv 800 a day. The debate was adjourned.