BRITONS TOLD THEY ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH ON “FUN AND GAMES"

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 2

BRITONS TOLD THEY ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH ON “FUN AND GAMES"

LONDON, Nov. 6.—Britons must ask themselves whether the present rate of spending on tobacco and other “private fun and games" was con* sistent with more important and worthwhile things the nation wanted, Mr. Herberrt Morrison, Lord President of the Council, told a public meeting at Preston- Lancashire. “In the second quarter of this year we were smoking an average of nearly 18,000,0001 b. of tobacco monthly, compared with less than 14.000,000 in 1935," said Mr. Morrrison (himself a smoker). “One dollar in 12 that we spend goes in tobacco and films. In fact, it we compare our exports to the United States with our dollar imports of tobacco, it would take us quite half the year's exports at. the rate we were going last summer to pay for the year’s dollar tobacco." Mr. Morrisoif quoted figures to show that nearly a quarter of personal spending “went on alcoholic drinks, tobacco, cinemas, racing, and other private fun and games—without counting the very large stake in gambling through football pools and in other ways. So you see we really are spending a very large sum indeed on different types of fun and games and things that are not essentials. Not that I want to stop all the joys of life. I am all for them, but we have to face the economic facts of life.”