The sun., 1919-09-01
BRITAIN SWEPT
BY PASSION FOR
RETRENCHMENT
Papers and Public Join in
Demands, While Lloyd
George Takes Rest.
INSIST ON PEACE BASIS
Evidence. of War Waste Is
Exploited in Attacks on
Government.
REFORM POLICIES ASKED
Discharge of Useless Employ
ees Begun-Ships Used to
Carry Slackers.
INSIST ON PEACE BASIS
REFORM POLICIES ASKED
Special cable Despatch to The sus and the
Public Ledger.

Special Gable Despdtch TO The sus and the
Public Ledger
Copyright. 1913. all ri0hts reserved.
LONDON, Aug. s1.--while Premier
Lloyd George enjoys a holiday on the
sands of Deauville the British people
are enjoying one of those occasional
fits of passion for governmental econ
omy without which no nation at pres
ent can presume to be great
Every newspaper, here without ex-
ception is sending its special reporters
to all Government depots and all docks
of the United Kingdom to expose Gov
ernment wastefulness. They reveal
how locomotives which were built for
railroads in France for use in the war
now are lying idle, as they are un-
workable for British tracks; how
docks are congested with every kind
of commodity and material and how
the Government is still giving out
contracts for articles which they de-
/ scribe as superhuous.
"Retrenchment" is the battle cry; a
cry heard many years ago.
| Taxpayers Fully Aroused.
In this newspaper campaign the people
are joining with the force of taxpayers
who see In every item Of waste less
! money in their pockets and in every item
OF saving bigger bank balance for
themselves. They write letters in hun
dreds TO the newspapers, pointing out the
extravagance and wastefulness Of the
Government. and particularly they de-
mand the dismissal OF a host Of Govern
Il ses- leyces II sEs' administrative
departments at whitehall.
| 1t is there that the Government is at
taeking one Irritating source of wasteful
expenditure. All temporary STATS are
being discharged and the Foreign Office
in particular is being assaulted by econo-
mizers with ferocious energy.
Everywhere there are reductions and
| the list of unemployed is being increased
| by numbers of wage earners who have
enjoyed the ease and security of admin
| istrative posts. OF course the majority
of those losing their places are women.
many OF whom are married. But having
! tasted the pleasure. OF earning money
and purchasing for themselves, they are
ioath to relinquish it, Many prefer to go
out to work, even IL married. to increase
the family income, rather than sit at
home and simply share in the husbands
earnings
| Shin Accomm Odations Misused.
Now the Government people who fill
berths on ships are being attacked. The
newspapers point out that not only does
the taxpayer have to pay for their
berths, but that he himself IL he desires
to visit the United States or Africa for
business purposes Is unable to obtain ac-
commodation, because the space aboard
ship is occupied by officials.
One shipping company has q waiting
list of several thousand names but re-
ports that it's berths are occupied by q
miscellaneous collection of Government
agents, who spend their time travelling
| to and fro.
From every direction there comes forth
to-day signs of ruthless energy and a
determine ton to recover from the dele
terious effects of war.
The consular service is to be re-
formed. trade policy must be evolved
and all must save.
These are the demands Of the British
people, who have speedily awakened to
the necessity of cutting away from the
war of the past to the peace OF the pres
ent and future. But at the same time
they do not desire to see their naval and
H.,
where they will be inefficient or curtall.
ment of money intended to develop trade
They want wise. healthy economy in
stituted.