LABOUR PARTY’S FUTURE

Southland Times, Issue 24823, 15 August 1942, Page 5

LABOUR PARTY’S FUTURE

Elderly Members Of House Of Commons

(Special Correspondent, N.Z.PA.)

(Rec. 6.30 p.m). LONDON, Aug. 13. Parliament in recess, the black-out now at 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m., compulsory fire-watching for women, the British Broadcasting Company’s ban on “slush” music—these are among the domestic topics of conversation in Britain today. Coincident with Parliament going into recess The Manchester Guardian commented on the elderliness of the members of the Labour Party who are in the House of Commons. Fewer than one-fifth of the members are under 50 years of age, one reason being the preference of the Trades Union Congress for electing trade union officials of long experience. This led to the comment unless the Labour Party tackles the question of selecting younger parliamentary candidates its political existence will be threatened. An article in The New Statesman and Nation expressed the opinion that the future of the Labour Party is among the major uncertainties of British politics. “There are no serious observers of its life who are not aware of its critical conditions,” the article states. . “Its loss of membership is heavy and its power to recruit youth tragically small. It has an ageing party in the House: hardly more than four or five of its leaders have any appeal in the country. The bulk of the candidates for the next election are in the middle ages, men and women who have lost the first fine careless rapture of crusading. It does not possess a dozen men

who could fill a hall in any large centre of production. The second party in the State is openly discussed as a failure.” LEADERSHIP CRITICIZED Inquiring into what has happened, the article suggests that the party s leadership is gravely inadequate and that it accepted a position of tragic subordination in the present Government, while it suffered in public opinion through its high-age composition. Putting back the clocks one hour has meant that the long twilight has vanished. Black-out curtains are in use again. It is a coincidence that London has had several alerts,_ chiefly in the early hours of the morning, recalling the blitz. Compulsory fire-watching for women reflects the call-up of men for the forces. The chief reaction so far is that women should receive the same compensation as men if they are injured, which does not apply at present. The Germans have recently dropped a new phosphorus incendiary, causing injuries. As a result people have been warned that if the phos-

phorus spatters them they must keep it damp until given first aid. They must not apply grease or ointment.

The British Broadcasting Commission recently decided that drooling, sentimental songs should no longer be broadcast, but should be replaced by bright cheerful tunes —a lead incidentally followed in America. There has been a minor controversy about what constitutes "slush.” The Music Publishers’ Association has asked for a definition.

There was no ceremony for the opening of the new Waterloo Bridge, London, and where in peace-time there would be an array of officialdom there was merely a flurry of half a dozen cyclists, followed by taxi-cabs, but the workmen reserved their cheers for the first bus-load of office workers. The bridge will shortly be opened for pedestrians. With the large numbers of Americans seen daily the people of Britain are now more conscious than at any time of th : war of America. Americans of all the forces are xnow quite a common sight, while the newspapers report their activities. United States bomber units will shortly be operating, while fighter units have already met the Germans.