AFTER-WAR TOPICS IN BRITAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 3

AFTER-WAR TOPICS IN BRITAIN

MEN WANT DISCHARGE LABOUR GOVERNMENT’S BIG TASK (Special Correapundent—N.Z.P.A.) London. Sept. 3. Demobilisation is the chief question in which the average man and woman of Britain are interested to-day. The majority of men and women want to be demobilised as soon as possible and they are needed urgently in industry to set the wheels of peace production going, the present rate is too slow for those concerned and a recent statement in the House of Commons by Mr. G. A. Isaacs, Minister of Labour, is regarded as disappointing, even depressing. The Government so far has chosen to abide in essentials by a scheme which was devised to cover the period between the defeat of Germany and the defeat of Japan and there are energetic demands that it be changed. Five Socialist members have waited on Mr. Isaacs to report popular feelings about the subject. It is since stated that the entire question of demobilisation has been reviewed during the Parliamentary recess and that Mr. Attlee, who is to broadcast soon, may indicate the Government’s plans for a speed up. It is also expected that the Prime Minister will refer to a number of outstanding topics, including lend-lease and U.N.R.R.A, . Parliament will be in recess until October 9. All the comment meanwhile emphasises that the new House of Commons, which assembled last month for the first time, revealed a more radical change than could have been gathered from the election figures alone. The attendance was high, attention keen and a succession of maiden sneeches remarkable for quality as for volume. MARKED DIFFERENCES.

Commenting, the “Economist” says: “It is now becoming apparent that the new Labour member is a very different animal from the old —ana by the same token from the Labour Minister. The gulf between the Treasury bench and the back benches must be greater to-day than at any other time in Parliamentary history. This is not merely a gulf of age but of character. The typical Labour Minister is the elderly cautious trade unionist, whose formal education stopped at the age of 12 or lower. The typical Labour member is the keen, intelligent young professional man, with a brilliant university career behind him.’’ The “New Statesman and Nation’’ says the Government is aimost embarrassed by the profusion of competence experts and talent and adds: “The old type of ‘working class’ member of Parliament may soon disappear. Secondary education and war service have combined to produce th; remarkable result that one coula not tell, from listening to 45 Labour maiden speakers, who was of wotk and who was of middle class origin. Even more important the question seemed irrelevant. They were all Socialists—and they were all experts on some facet of home or world politics. In a sense this is the first Parliament of technicians—and that may be the most revolutionary thing about it.” Mr. Vernon Bartlett, M.P., in the “Spectator,” comments on the “whirlwind of enthusiasm” sweeping through the Palace of Westminster and dec.ares that the newcomers have been self-confident and clear and almost without exception have made speecnes interesting in themselves. “‘So many of them have high intellectual attainments, they have commanded men in critical dangerous situations, they have experience of international administration, they are young and not ashamed of have ideals.” A reminder of the continuation of wartime restrictions is the issue of new clothing coupons. Each person has 24 and they must last until next April. Just how far they go is indicated by their values: For men, a non-austerity suit requires 26 coupons, an austerity suit 20, a pair of trousers eight, a suit of pyjamas eight, a shirt with collars and tie, eight; for women, a winter coat 18. a woollen dress 11 shoes seven, and fully fashioned stockings three. For many people it will be a case of “make do and mend.” SHORTAGES IN BRITAIN. The cigarette shortage in Britain has become more intense and “no cigarettes” notices are becoming familiar. One reason advanced is that '■ c heavy demands for duty free cigarttes for the forces overseas. There are no limits beyond those imposed by individual firms on the numbers that may be sent to British or Allied forces overseas at 5s 6d for 200. It is suggested that these cigarettes are being used as currency in foreign countries where they are traded r or all sorts of articles. Many of these find their wav back to London and the “Daily Express” reports that in a dirtv cul de sac off Cutler in Houndsditch, Fast London, are jewellery cameras, rings, watches and nrope'ling pencils, some looted and some bought for cigarettes sellin" at fantastic prices. For vears this cul dp sac has been the market nlace for legitimate traders for articles which would not fetch shop prices. It is staled that cameras are now fe‘ching £lOO, rings £5O, and watches £l5.

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