The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1945-04-20
NEWS AND VIEWS
BY Alexander Lipsett
Can ILNS Feature)

POSTWAR housing is problem no
less heatedly discussed in Britain
than in the United States.
During recent housing debate
in the House of Commons, Mr.. H. U.
Willink, British Minister of Public
Health, stated that by the end of the
second year after Germany's collapse
100000 houses would be completed
and $4,000 more near completion. He
asserted that the British building in
dustry could not be expected to pro-
duce more, especially in view of man.
power problems.
A total of 100000 houses in years
seems to Americans a rather poor
showing. This view is apparently
shared by some members of the Brit
ish Parliament who did not hesitate to
plunk the Minister'S arguments and
| figures apart. A conservative mem
ber, /. C. Cobb, pointed out that it
was time to start construction work
in view of the idleness of large num-
UcIS VI WOIhSIS III diiSidlC PidHeo.
The men were complaining of having
! nothing to do and might well be shift
ed to construtive work and jobs in
these lines, he said.
This column follows with great in
terest and an equal amount of skepti-
cism the arguments of our press and
radio commentators that it will take
decades to rebuild Europe. 1t has
always felt that given few years
of peace and concentration on work
and bread-to borrow from the Bolshe-
visit slogan of 1917-Europe will
quickly be able to arise from the
ashes and reconstitute itself as an
important member in the family of
nations.
An unexpected confirmation of this
view comes now from German indus
trialists who predict that recovery
of Germany is relatively simple if the
Allied powers permit it. According
to a DR.. Duisberg, official of the
Chamber of Industry and Commerce
in American occupied Frankfort on
the Main, 80 percent of German indus
try has been destroyed by the war.
''The destruction is undoubtedly vast, "
he said, "but buildings can be replaced
and German ideas and enterprise have
not been destroyed"
Whether things will work out that
way remains to be seen. In any event
it will be necessary to keep strict con-
troll on German ideas and German en-
terprise."
Passing Chances in the Passing
Parade: A bull-necked Nazi storm
trooper, taken prisoner at the West
ern front, boasts of having taken part
in the execution of 5000 Jews Amer
ican authorities are reported making
an exhaustive CD investigation. 1t
would do no harm to show to the world
that we can act just as speedily as the
Russians in dealing with murderers
:. General Motors reports new EN-.
ployment high of 465,617 for 1914
Payrolls amounted to $1,380,000,0 900
The average annual wage in 1914 was
$1,000, as against $2,985 in 1943 ant
$2,257 in 4941, last year of peace
} time production. Where are the fab
ulous profits of our war workers
: The Russian press is blasting
away at colonial rule by the grea'
powers. The magazine War and the
e Working class says that "the colonia
: enslavement of millions is dangerou.
5 obstacle in the path of social pro
gress." That sounds like the pot call
{ ing the kettle black :. British Labor
party spokesmen have announced thai
they are opposed to postwar coali
) tion regime, thus rejecting the Churc
hill invitation of a non-party govern
/ ment after the European war. The
; British Communists, on the Other
hand, endorse the idea of a continued
: coalition /. President Roosevelt ha:
) proclaimed April as Cancer Contro
Month CIO President Murray an
nounces April as United Nations
Month Any further suggestions? !.
! Dutch orders for machinery and ma
, terials for the rebuilding of the g.,
900, ,OO0-ton merchant fleet of prewal
5 days have been placed in Britain, Bel
Y gium, Switzerland and Sweden. Il
E the United States good only for Lend
Lease transactions