CLOCK BACK SIX MONTHS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1947, Page 5

CLOCK BACK SIX MONTHS

(Bpecial Correspondent.)

British Worse Off Than In KO END TO CRISIS SEEN

Received Friday, 7.10 p.m. LOxsDOX, Feb. 14. This past week has been one of thc most dithcult and depressmg tnat hnlain has oxperienced since tne darkesi days of the war. It proved even worse than anticipatad on February 7, when the Government's deeision to manu drastie cuts lirst become known. A0 the week ends the unhappiest feature io that there is still no clear indication oi when the crisis can be expeeted to pass. The Air Ministry's meteorological department says the bittcr winds from .Siberia may Just another fortnight. There is general approval of the Government's deeision to establish a "coal eabinet" and to conduct its activities on the lines of a military operation. The country, having re- : covered 'from shocked surprise, is de- 1 manding iirm action. That the country did not at first realise the gravity oc the situation is evidcnced by the. fac.t that ihe initial deeision not to enforcc restrictions by iniposing penalties, hau to be changed. While the effects of Britain being oconomically Jiamstrung are patently clear, there are nevertheless certain bright spots al)Out the situation. Oiuis thqt the miners are making magnili cent efforts to keep production at the highest pitch despite all diffieulties. The output will, of course, be lower dne to the effects of the weather and some pits are being closed. Another bright spot is the gallan effort of colliers ploughing down thceast coast to, JLondon in heavy weather The coal had been loaded in snowstorim and sometimes it had been frozen. One ship, although short of food, sailed oi. and radioed a message asking for fooi. to he ready when she reaehed tn^ Thames. The magnificent work oi thes~ colliers has been compared to that oi the men of the coastal fleet during tne Battle of Britain. When facing otner dangers they continued to supply Eon don and ports despite all opposition. io is one example of many oi' how the country as a whole has carried on calmly despite headshaking and irritationD. and shown once more her waroirm quaiities. Latest reports are that coal generall\ is on the movo again not only by seu imt also by irain and canal, while froiu the .South' Yorkshire coalfields there m now the biggest movement since the freeze-up. The priority order for moving coal is having good results. meuuwliiie Br.uun is uavk again iu n.anv respects to wartime conuition--. Fast nighr's blackout in the streets wa-, oue reminder of those days. In man,* ways the people generally are now worse off as they are experieneiii„ shortages that they never liad during the war. Certainly nobody was ever short of work and it has been a ncv," .'xperii-nce for the majority of thosi ,.ho are reporting to the uiiemploymein bureaux. As a result of the present crisis it is generally considered 'that the clock in Britain may be put back by about six months, and perhaps longer, that tnstead of having better living conditions during the coming year the people wil. nave a iurther ioiig wait before there is xny radical improvement. It is a partiv-nlarlj hard blow for in lustrv which, despite many diffieulties, Mad been picking up its stride. Reports from abroad, notably from America, that the Labour Cabinet is in grave danger and may have to resign .»r .nay go to the country for another elee,ion, liave been read with surprise here. It can be stated that, grave though the situation is and as fully as its effects ire realised, there is no likelihood of Gabinet resigning or an clection taking plare. Britain is in the mood for action :jut not of that sort, particularly at the .uomeiit. Mr. Attlee. and his Cabinet have given a clear indication that the ituation is being tackled tirmly and realistically and that further postiuortems are likely tqj)e put off untii ihe crisis Fas passed; ' Then it will probably oceur when the economnvVhite Paper .is discussed by Farliameni. The importancc of this forth-i coming statenient has been heightened by the events of the past week and even more interest is attached to n than hitherto. It was to have bee/i published this week, but with Mr. Mor rison 's illness and the rush of evetit.s, it is now likely to appear tOAvards the end of the month or early in March. Both Britain and her Labour Govern ment have taken a heavy blow this week and in many respects will have to make a fresh start. In thdt light the new Wliitc Paper may have an historic uote al)Out it.