WAVE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 2

WAVE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

NATIONAL CABINET IN BRITAIN SPEEDING UP THE WAR EFFORT LONDON, May 25. The formation of a new Government, social and industrial “revolutions,” the greatest battle the world has ever seen, and the threat of invasion—Britain has witnessed all these things since Germany began to smash her way into Belgium and Holland on May 10. It has been one of the most vivid periods to live through. The country has so braced itself to meet the shock of what still may come that the new attitude of the people can be sensed as a living and vital thing. Gloom and dismay have been replaced by confidence and renewed determination. POLITICAL BACKGROUND One of the most interesting things about the selection of the new Government was not so much the inclusion of Labour and Liberal members. It was that the chief figureheads of the small band of “Tory rebels” were included. It is possible that had Mr Chamberlain included more of these “rebels” in his various Cabinet reshuffles, the Labour Party might not have been able to play the important part that it undoubtedly did in his resignation. Labour refused coalition at the beginning of the war. It would not serve under Mr Chamberlain. Eventually it came into the Government on its own terms, and two of the most important positions have been filled by its members—Mr Ernest Bevin at the Ministry of Labour and Mr Herbert Morrison at the Ministry of Supply. Today a terrific responsibility for winning the war undoubtedly rests upon these two men. Mr Bevin has won the support of the trade unions with his “National Sei-vice Column” speech, and Mr Morrison is overhauling his Ministry. They are both aided by the new Defence Act One of its provisions gives power to stop competition for highly-skilled workers by various industries, which was becoming dangerous to the national effort. ADJUSTMENT OF POLICY It now seems that Britain must adapt her industries to a short war and cast away long-term policy. The care-fully-planned drive for exports will have to go by the board; men who are building motor-cars for export are needed for aircraft production, and so on. In this readjustment, and in the effort to keep up Britain’s war effort to its highest peak, there are Labour men at the key positions. What prestige Labour will reap from ultimate victory in the immediate post-war period is an interesting speculation. Today, facing an almost inevitable threat of invasion by ah- and a ruthless bombing of their cities, it is exhilarating to sense the roused spirit of the nation, confident in a strong Government which is not shy of clapping suspects into prison or of showing strength and determination in all its actions.