Evening star., 1947-12-07


a Conservative comeback.
Wide World Photo.
the near future, the Laborites,
working through the trade unions
and co-operatives would see that
there was a large turnout. The
Tories made one of their best efforts
in the recent elections.
Better Test of Sentiment
Morgan Phillips, secretary of the
Labor Party, said that the defeats
were due to food and clothing short
ages and the abolition of "basic
petrol" gasoline ration similar
to our A classification during the
war. He also complained bitterly
about the high pressure Tory at
tack which was deliberately aimed
at exploiting popular discomfort
over inevitable shortages and re-
strictions." But the Tory tactics
were politics as played the world
over His party not only failed to
explain to the voters why the sac
rifces were necessary but also end
ed "basic petrol on election day.
A few days before Labor leaders
publicly had hinted that the price
of cigarettes would have to be
raised from IS cents to dollar for
package Of 20.
The three by-elections last week
were better test of national senti-
ment. In these Labor upheld its
unprecedented record of not losing
seat won in the general election
The Socialist majority was greatly
reduced in the closely watched
Gravesend contest on which the
Conservatives had built up high
hopes because the vacancy was
caused by the expulsion from Par
| lament of Garry Allighan for sell
ing confidential parliamentary in
formation to newspaper. This
was hard handicap for the Labor
ties 10 overcome. 1t was done by
getting out the Labor vote. The
Conservatives also increased thei1
strength in this middle class" dis
trict but not enough. In the East
Yorkshire constituency Of Howden-
shire, safe" Tory seat, the Con-
servatives increased their majority
from 4,5lS to lO,227 but in East
Edinburgh the Socialists retained a
/ safe" Labor district. The two last
named by-elections were like the
Republicans winning in Vermont
and the Democrats winning In
Georgia.
Tory Platform Studied
The Tory platform is contained in
a 4O-page pamphlet, selling for a
shilling 60 cents, which was almost
unanimously adopted at, the recent
Brighton Conference attended by
5000 party workers. 1t Is called
The Industrial Charter, a State
ment of Conservative Industrial
Policy"
/ 1t is so vague that it can be
interpreted to suit the economic
predictions of the reader. In gen.
eral, however, the proposals are far
to the left of the old New Deal
program. Following are few typi-
cal excerpts giving the Tory planks
on important issues:
The NationaIized Industries
I'VE are opposed to nationali-
zation in principle.
1--WE do not believe that 1t will
be desirable to restore to private
ownership the coal industry and
the Bank Of England.
I'VE are firmly opposed to ma
tionalization Of the iron and steel
industry.
Those industries which re-
main nationalized will be sub
mitted to rigorous examination
from the point of view Of their
economic efficiency. We shall in
troduce q greater measure OF uni
formity into the acts, limit the
scope of these monopolieS and
insure adequate decentralization
with special regard to Scotland
and Wales. We shall restrict the
ministers powers, especially in
regard to patronage"
National Housekeeping.
There must be a clearcut di-
vision between what must be
done by the government and
what the individual is free to do.
In order to make the best OF our
national assets there must be bet
ter machinery for giving strong
central guidance. We envisage
well-knit system of consultation,
extending from the cabinet room
| to the floor OF the workshop, un-