BRITAIN’S GREY DAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 228, 26 September 1945, Page 5

BRITAIN’S GREY DAYS

PRO-EMPIRE TREND TOPICS IN PUBLIC MIND

(Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 7.20 p.m. London, Sept. 25. The talk of power politics and power blocs, as a result of the reported disagreement among the Big Powers represented at the Council of Foreign Ministers, the progress of the HalifaxKeynes talks on Britain’s economic position at Washington, and the interesting “leakage” of information regarding Britain’s higher proportionate contribution to the war than America’s and renewed warnings that the atom bomb can mean world suicide—these are the most important subjects being discussed here at present. It might be said they are inter-re-lated, since the failure of the Big Powers to agree, and of Britain and America to reach some mutually beneficial agreement could lead eventually to an atomic war. There is at present, however, no tendency to be too glum about the outlook, since in international affairs the Last word is certainly not with the Foreign Secretaries. important as they are, while it is believed that Britain and America cannot afford to fall out over trade matters, for if they did so the result would be mutually harmful. There is discernible here, however, a distinct tendency—and it is growing —towards a pro-British and pro-Em-pire spirit which was expressed unequivocably last week by Mr. S. M. Bruce, the Australian High Commissioner, and which finds answering echoes. Generally speaking, the feeling is that Britain may lack dollars and overseas credits, but that, does not mean that she, or the Empire, is ruined. The fact that she owes the Empire £3,500,000,000 is not deplored. On the contrary, it is pointed out that this very fact ensures continued Empire trade. PROBLEM OF WAGES.

There is no denying, however, that these are grey days tfor Britain. Her people, with the echoes of victory bells still recent memories, find they must carry on still with bare necessities in the way of food and clothing while the whole of the country’s economic life is overhauled and readjusted. Though everybody is fully acquainted with the necessity of recovering the export trade, production for it is not going to be forthcoming without some domestic heartburnings. One is the question of wages in those industries which provide goods for raising the standard of living at home and are also essential for the restoration of export trade. Wages in these industries, which urgently require labour, are lower than those paid during the war in munition factories. There is a fear that unless the labour controls are continued, and unless there is a definite wages policy, industries catering for home production will attract more labour than those working for overseas markets. The possibility is that higher wages will be paid by the former and passed on to the consumers here, who have little enough on which to spend money and will be willing to pay high prices, but not by the latter, who must keep down costs and prices as far as possible to compete in the overseas markets. This may have an effect on output. With the approach of the new session of Parliament which begins on October 9, there is a quickening of interest in the political scene. There still is a tendency among his “Tory” opponents.to call Mr. Attlee “dismal Clem,” but most of the criticism of Labour Ministers at present is reserved for Sir Stafford Cripps, whose decision to run cotton, and boots, shoes and other industries, on his “working party” plans has caused real annoyance, particularly among the cotton industry. Mr. Shinwell (Minister of Fuel) has declared that the Government is in earnest about nationalisation of mines, while an all-out drive has been begun for 8,000,000 more tons of coal this winter. He appealed to the miners to play their part and back up the Government, and it is reported that any miner who refuses to accept his obligations, and is faced with legal action as a result of his absence from work, will not receive the protection or support of his union.

The question of getting coal this winter indeed will be more than one of keeping warm. It will also have a political implication. If the Labour Party, after all their criticism of the Conservatives for failing to manage the coalmines pjroperly and ail their declarations of what they would do if given the power, fail to produce results, then they can expect some virulent criticism.

Interest is being taken in former Conservative Ministers, who were defeated at the general election and now are seeking to return at a number ot by-elections which are pending. They include Mr. Richard Law and Mr. Brendan Bracken. Mr Law’s adoption at South Kensington was not without opposition. There was much support for the local Mayor, Mr. Robert Jenkins. He had the backing of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who, at what was described as a stormy meeting, remarked: “No one voted for an easy life in the last election. They voted against the ‘Tories’ ’ absence ol constructive and domestic policy. Wt must serve notice on the central office that we are a party of reform, and want a change in those who organise our party policy." The Conservatives are holding a meeting on October 5 to discuss why they lost the election. THE HOUSING PROBLEM. The country is still awaiting anything interesting in the way of news about the housing programme, but, in the meantime Bristol, Brighton ano Windsor local authorities are considering requisitioning vacant premises advertised for private or auction sale. One of lhe effects of this action, if taken, would be to bring down fictitious values of houses. To-day it, is still almost impossible to rent a house, the owners beng willing only to .-ell at sometimes fantastic prices. For instance, bungalows. whch were built for £BOO before Um war arc bringing as much ns £3500.