ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR NON-PARTY STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC CRISIS

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 5

ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR NON-PARTY STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC CRISIS

LONDON, Nov. 8 (Recd. 6pm).— A call for a non-party declaration by political leaders on the facts of Britain’s economic crisis was made by the Archbishop of York, Dr. Cyril Garbett, when he addressed the York Diocesan Conference today. The Archbishop warned the people of Britain that they wore confronted with a crisis comparable with the months after Dunkirk. He urged the leaders of all political parties to “issue an agreed, downright statement on the extreme gravity of the present position.” Dr. Garbett said tiiat when the people knew’ the stark realities of the position they would rise to the occasion. Britain, he said, was maintaining a high standard of living, though she was a much poorer country than in the past. She was drawing on her savings and reserves were getting very low, and was using Marshall Aid, which would end within two years. Unless there was a radical change, Britain would have no money for overseas food or raw materials, and nations would be afraid to trade with her for fear “that all they send to us may be lost in a general crash, without any hope of repayment.** The results of such crash would be fewer things to buy, higher prices and cut rations, industries compelled to close down for lack of raw materials, with resultant unemployment. “Our position as a great Power would go,” he said. Dr. Garbett said the State was trying to avoid bankruptcy by cutting imports, increasing exports and reducing expenditure. “However, I am sure that the Government will not obtain the necessary support of the nation as a whole unless the extreme gravity of the crisis is brought home to ail,” said Dr. Garbett. “It is not yet clearly understood that this crisis affects every one of us, that unless it is solved within the next year or two the manner of life of every citizen may be disastrously changed for the worse. Reuter.