OUTCRY IN BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1939, Page 5

OUTCRY IN BRITAIN

AGAINST INTERFERENCE WITH TRADE CRITICISM OF BUREAUCRATIC CONTROL. “GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY & RED TAPE.” By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, October 29. Though the Board of Trade returns for September (published on Saturday) reflect the dislocation of business occasioned by the outbreak of war. there, is every reason to expect that the next batch of figures will show a substantial improvement. The position is daily improving through successful organisation of convoys and acceleration in the granting of export licences, though the latter are still the subject of bitter complaints. The outcry against bureaucracy is now becoming formidable. It originated in the City, and business centres in the provinces have now taken it up and also the popular Press, which is devoting articles daily to complaints of Government inefficiency and red tape. There seems to be no doubt that Whitehall’s pale pink socialism is ham ■ pering business throughout Britain. The '•lnvestors' Chronicle” points out that the London metal exchange was built up as a result of a century of experience. But at present its business is confined to dealing with 25. tons of tin daily; consequently the entire business of the metal exchange is insufficient to pay the expenses of a single one of its members. Similarly, the London wool market is allowed to cool its heels in expensive inactivity. Newspapers face a sharp increase in costs as a result of a rise in the cost of newsprint by £4 15s to £l7 a ton. The ‘‘Financial News” says that rationing of pulp supplies would have prevented the increase, and it adds. “We regard the position as being entirely due to the failure of the Government to handle it intelligently. “There is an abundance of pulp awaiting shipment, but a shortage of shipping space. The proper method of dealing with supplies meanwhile would be to ration the pulp available, but the Ministry of Supply has made no attempt to do so.” The pre-war price of newsprint was £ll 5s a ton. WOOL TRADE CONFUSION COMPLAINTS IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, October 28. Indicating American concern over the international woo] position, the American Woollen Company analyses at length the British purchase of the Australian and New Zealand clip, stressing the trade’s confusion. It adds that the Australians apparently are willing to sell to Britain the clip on an agreed upon basis for patriotic reasons, but only for wool used by Britain or the Allies, wools shipped elsewhere being priced above the base and half of the profit going to the producers. The flat price, therefore, does not indicate the future United States price. _i ' The universal feeling in the trade is that Britain will consider the prevailing market conditions when announcing the price.