Evening star., 1949-04-07
Cripps Escapes Storm
In New Heavy Budget
On British People
D. re Assseasssa srsss

LONDON. April 7.-Sir Stafford
CrippS. Britain's 8 apostle Of suster-
ity. apparently rode out q storm
OF criticism from the left today
over his national budget prescrio-
ing another lean year for the
British people.
A storm had appeared 70 be
brewing around the Chancellor Of
the ExcheQuer AZ q private gath
ering OF Labor members OF Parlia-
ment. However. the British Press
Association s lobby correspondent.
Z. P. Stackpoole, said after the
Labor caucus that most NJ. PIs felt
Grips had largely got away with
it" in forcing an unpleasant bucs-
ct on the nation. He said Cripps
probably would have won a ma
jority If the budget had been put
to party vote.
Higher Food Prices.
There had been some specula-
ton that Sir Stafford might offer
TO resign II the party did not
express satisfaction with his bud
get and his arguments for It.
The budget means higher food
prices and skimpy tax relief for
Britain's 10000, 900. Parliament
airy observers. however. believed
generally that Cripps would
weather the storm with little or
no damage to the Labor Party's
prestige.
Sir Stafford presented the new
budget to the House Of Commons
yesterday. 1t raised the prices
OF meat, cheese and butter by
lowering government subsidies
and 1t gave only scattered minor
tax relief to q nation long heavily
taxed and yearning for q break.
Most London newspapers agree
Cripps was right in saying Britain
could reduce taxation only ct the
expense Of our social services
(such as the socialized medicine
program or OF defense"
Supplement May Be Issued.
The budget was announced on
the eve Of London County Council
elections and following similar
elections In other areas in which
Labor conceded the loss OF a num-
ber Of seats. The British Press
Association speculated that a sup
Elementary budget might be put
out in the autumn to remedy the
impression this one left, because
to wait until the budget Of next
April would leave things too near
to the general election" The gen.
eral election comes in 1850.
Trade union circles were re-
ported panied and surprised at
the budget. The influential
Trades Union Congress had
warned Cripps earlier that the
pressure for wage increases could
not be contained unless food and
household commodity prices went
down.
In the first stock market reac-
ton. movie, brewery and depart
ment store shares fell and store
shares were of. Associated British
Pictures FIVE shilling ($D shares
fell nine pence (about is cents
in early trading, because there was
no remission of entertainment
taxes. Brewery losses ranged UP
to five shillings six. pence because
the penny of . pint" relaxation
Of beer tax was not big enough to
bring customers fiocking. Har-
rods Department Store shares fell
two shillings four and half pence
because the full range Of purchase
taxes has been maintained.
Totals $15,304, 100000.
The budget totals f3.826. .000, 900
(S15. .304 900. .000).
Anticipating grumblers. Sir Stat
ford said, We can't have our cake
and eat 1t, too" He said that his
budget is the proper method Of
paying the big bills for national
defense. social services and other
needs.
Parliamentary reporters for the
British press called his budget
speech a brave one. Headline
writer's dubbed him the Iron
chancellor" and quipped about his
grim and-bear-it budget" The
Daily Telegraph tindependeAt
Conservative captioned its imam
cial column: Good Budget for
Markets"
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