Larger Incomes Would Spell Failure For Britain

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1949, Page 5

Larger Incomes Would Spell Failure For Britain

Received Monday, 9.15 a.m. (( LDN£)DN, January 9. our people or any' sections of them were now to try to grab larger money incomes it would lead to our i.nevitable failure — -with all that it means for'the future of our country and of world democracy," said the Chancellor of' the Exchequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, to a Labour Rarty meeting at Workington, Cumberland. Sir Stafford said that those who were urging the workers to make such demands were either thoroughly ignorant of the economic situation or perhaps, what was more Iikely, were intent upon the destruction of- democratic socialism in order that they might fasten upon the people of this country the sort of totalitarian regime which has destroyed the freedom of the pfeople in so mahy Europeah chuntfies hlready. The Government was fully justified now, he continued, in telling the people, "You must be patient and you must not ask for pr expect any f urth'er advances in special standards or wage j levels until we have bhen able to increase the productivity 'of our industries, so as to make more goods available, either by domestic supply or importation. Anyway, our first obligation 10 to fhake our cotmtry eeohomically independent, and we haven't nfearly acconfplished that as yet."