CONSERVATIVE PARTY CONDEMNS LABOUR’S ECONOMIC CONDUCT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27211, 14 October 1949, Page 7

CONSERVATIVE PARTY CONDEMNS LABOUR’S ECONOMIC CONDUCT

NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m.' LONDON, Oct. 12. The Conservative Party’s annual conference to-day unanimously adopted dn emergency resolution fcondemning the Labour Government’s economic conduct, culminating in the devaluation of the £. The meeting, the biggest ever, is being held ,amid feverish speculation that a general election may he held earlier than next spring—perhaps even next month. The 4500 delegates are attuned to a “ campaign atmosphere.” Mr Anthony Eden, former Foreign Secretary, and Mr Churchill’s second in command in the party, stimulated this atmosphere by a hard-hitting speech, declaring that devaluation nad made it certain that Birtain’s standard of living was going down. “Devaluation is not in any sense a magic wand,” he said. “It is not even a policy. It. is a pretty desperate device.* Unless we set a new course at once the fall—which must in any event be painful—will be catastrophic.” The Labour Government, he declared, had spent too much time destroying wealth and too little time creating it. Hard Road Ahead Mr Eden said that the Conservatives could promise nothing but hard and challenging times as the only road to national solvency. In some industries this would mean longer hours. In every industry it would mean more effort of brain and muscle in the hours being worked. “Above all we need a Government that will ,tell the whole truth to the nation, however sharp and however disagreeable," he siid. “ The challenge cannot come too soon.” Britain must seek a solution to the problem of her sterling balances, he said. Unemployment was certain when Marshall aid was exhausted and the. sellers’ market came to an end. unless'the right action was taken. Stand Against Nationalisation Mr Oliver Lyttelton launched a strong attack on nationalisation, which, he said the Conservatives opEosed in all forms in which it had een presented, and in which it was threatened. He said' the Labour Party’s proposals to nationalise insurance broke all the pledges given by Mr Attlee and Sir Stafford Cripps. The Conservative Party reaffirmed its stand against nationalisation and deplored the “ loss of independence ” ,of unions in nationalised industries.

The conference unanimously passed three resolutions backing the Tory stand on matters that will certainly be live issues during the election. The first resolutions declared that all unions should be freed from political affiliations and that strikes 'should not begin without a secret ballot. The second said that nationalisation of insurance would be “ detrimental to policy holders, insurance staffs and the country,” and the third urged the adoption of methods by which nationalised industries and services “may again be made efficient.”