Mr. Bevin Calls For Greater Production

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1947, Page 5

Mr. Bevin Calls For Greater Production

(N.Z.P.A.-

- Reuter.

, copyrigh- )

LONDON, Sept. 3. "With. present production and with droughts and other difficulties from which Britain was suffering it was going to be a niighty hard job to maintain 1938 standards in the next two years," declared Mr. Ernest Bevxn when addressing the Trades Union Council today. It was estimated that five years ago the national ineome would range ax about £8,200,00(1,000, but'to aehieve the. Government's purpose the national ineome had to be distribnted in terni.s of goods and services and must reaeh £9,000,000,000. He believed that ix could be dorie. Mr. Bevin said that he did not intend to leeture the miners. "1 believe tha, with a greater understanding and an assurance the miners in the end will respond to the nation 's need. The world's great need, apart from con sunier goods, is eapital goods. Fach toi. of eoal turned into steel and iinisheu artieles niultiplies by 10 everv time. Forty million tons of eoal would be tiothe biggest contribution in helping to elose the gap in the adverse trade balanee. " The Government felt that it had to try to maintain the standard of life ahigh as possible, and if there was u temporarv reeession of that staridar'l the Government had to try to devis.. plans to reeover it at the earliest pos sible moment. The Labour Government asked the T.U.C. executive to remove all foibles and petty restrictions in order that th,. battle oi production may be won once and for all." Mr. Bevin said that he expected the present difficulties would Jast for two years. He was convinced that Amerieu had handicapped herself antl had caused high domestic taxation by failing to redistribute her gold hold ings. Mr. Bevin contended that as 75 per cent. of Britain 's trade was outside Europe a Customs Union in Europe would not solve Britain 's difficulties, although it would be of very great as sistance. "However, I hope otu' Commonweaitn and certamiy the Empire will agree to the possihility of a Cus toms Union for the British Commonwealth and the Empire. ' ' The delegates recexved the announcement in silence. Most of them appeared not to realise its signiticance. Mr. Bevin said he had not had one single vote of credit in the House ci Commons to assist in rehahilitation work for overseas. "Give me the toois of production and their > full results anu I will change the foreign poiicy o^ Europe. ' ' The delegates loudly cheered Mr. Bevin 's speeeh.