USE OF MANPOWER

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1947, Page 3

USE OF MANPOWER

MR. ATTLEE EXPLAINS BRITISH PROPOSALS (Spe,cial Cprregpo.ndent.) , . LODDON, Marcli 28. Explainiug the functions of the inter-depurtmeiUal plaiming stalf vvliich is to be headed by ilr. Plowden, Mr. Attlee said its primary task would be ' to develop a Jong teria plan for the use of the country 's inanpower and resources. Its job would be' to follow i through and iuiplement the reconimen1 dations set out in the White Paper. Decisious on the planning policy would be made by Cabinet and not by the chief planuer, and responsibilitv for the decisions niust, of course, rest entirely with the Ministers. Mr. Attlee admitted it would be a mistake to assume that present eonditions of underproduction could be solved by planning atone for planning by itself was not any substitute for an increased effort. The Economist comments that the absence of any other suggestions in the eeononiic debate made it appear that the appointment of the ehief plauner was the Government 's answer to the eeononiic crisis. Mr. Plowden will have to light against a public conception tliat hc is a miracle man endowed witli full powers to do what he wants. Portuuately Mr. Attlee 's statcment goes a Jittle way towards correcting that view. Mr. Attlee has now made it clear that the Ministers alone remain responsible for the eeononiic policy of the country. Mr. Plowden 's task is to act as eoowlinalor on what is knoWn as "an oilicial level." He is not, in substance, in any differeut position from existing ofiicial advisers of the G-overninent Avhose views may or may not be aeeeptod.

Commenting on Mr. Plowden 's appointment, The Times, in a leader, says if the appointment nieans that the deliciencies of the past and rcquireliients of the future have now been plainly discerned by Mr. Attlee, tho consequence mav be a dramatio change for the bctter but The Times emphasises the very negation of planning is to sct up elaborate machinery for interdepartinental coordination aud to go through the motious of iilanning without arriving at conclusions. It is Mr. Attlee 's first duty, The Times says, to see that things are done, aud the need for a small policy-making Cabinet with t.he time aud ability to act as a power; house of planning, was never niore evijdent. If Mr. Attlee and his chief colleagues have both the will and capacity to seize the chance offered them, they can transform the qualifcy of the Government almost overnight. Their opportunity is nothing less than Britain's salvation. They have at hand the goodwill of the entire nation. If they can now produce a prograinme of action wliich the nation needs and looks for, if they do their dufey with conpetence and courage, they will be acting in fact as a national . Government, for the future now depends upon their success. They are a Labour Government ,and canuot be expected to diseard or put off the Labour programme on which they embarked but they can and should adapt the pace of their programme, if need be, drastieally to the imperious and exacting demands of the national policy. On. one side the future offers success. On the other a failure is too sordid to contemplate. If Mr. Attlee and his Cabinet ean choose and plan aright, the future of their country will be assured for a generatioA