The Southland Times SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1941. Lord Beaverbrook Moves Upward

Southland Times, Issue 24425, 3 May 1941, Page 6

The Southland Times SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1941. Lord Beaverbrook Moves Upward

ALTHOUGH the general debate which begins shortly in the House of Commons will be in no way comparable with the historic debate after the evacuation from Norway the Government may have to face a certain apaount of criticism. Apparently it was to anticipate and disarm such criticism that the latest changes were made in the Cabinet. The most interesting move is the appointment of Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of State without portfolio. Apart from its political significance, the change is encouraging evidence that aircraft production is now organized on a suitable basis, and can be safely entrusted to other hands. If the weaknesses in production had not been overcome, this supremely important work would not be taken from the man most suited to carry it to a triumphant climax. Lord Beaverbrook has never been a popular figure in England, possibly because dynamic personalities are disturbing influences in quiet places. But his great ability could not be denied, and in the past 12 months he has performed miracles of organization. Until Mr Churchill created a new ministry for Lord Beaverbrook, aircraft production was a divided responsibility, and no innovations could be made without endless consultations. The Minister claimed a single authority and then set up a number of committees and personal advisers, selecting his own personnel. He startled civil servants by sweeping aside all the red tape which threatened to slow up pro-duction,-and he stopped the fatal habit of introducing too many new designs instead of concentrating on a few satisfactory types. Everybody had to work hard: there were complaints that Lord Beaverbrook was a “dictator.” But no one worked harder than the Minister himself. Tireless, bustling, irascible and genial in turn, he organized his department until it seemed to be infected with his own immense energy. And he got results. Today, with aircraft production mounting steadily and geared for a total expansion, Lord Beaverbrook is second only to Mr Churchill in popularity. As Minister without portfolio, he will be freed from departmental duties and will be able to throw himself with his customary zeal into a larger direction of war policy. Presumably he will be needed mainly for the co-ordination of industrial effort. Although a great deal has already been done to remove the anomalies and weaknesses which impeded the change-over to a war-time economy, it is evident from the growing volume of criticism in English newspapers that there is still much room for improvement. The truth has been generally recognized that only a total mobilization of the country's resources can allow Britain to oppose Germany on equal terms; but it is a truth that in too many directions is uttered rather than practised. A traffic in foods, revealed by the chairman of a Food Price Investigation Committee in a message printed yesterday, is one instance of faulty planning which must come near to the public conscience. That other abuses and failures are taking place on the home front is indicated by the tone of an amendment to the Governments confidence motion tabled by a member in the House of Commons. References to the reorganization of propaganda and news services “behind a realistic diplomacy” and to “a more intensified policy of home food production” are only two hints of the reasons for discontent. Possibly Lord Beaverbrook is to turn his attention to some of these problems. Armed with wide powers, which he will not hesitate to use, he should be able to speed up the mobilization of resources, industrial and technical. His appointment may be a compromise on the issue of a smaller Wai' Cabinet, or a tentative move towards the acceptance of a principle which Mr Churchill has not favoured in the past. The debate in the House of Commons will show if the present move is sufficient. It should also reveal a growing desire to have done with halfmeasures on those sections of the home front where official inadequacy is still preventing a unified thrust towards victory. The Greek campaign will have repercussions at home as well as abroad.