The
world's
thinnest watch*
Thin as a coin, and no larger, the
Vacheron & Constantin "Extra Flat" contains the 120 parts of
an intricate precision mechanism. To technical mastery is here
added the quiet beauty of a designer's dream come true.
With this model, Vacheron &
tribute to the
Constantin pay
200 -year tradition that has allowed them to become the
world's oldest watchmaking establishment and yet to remain a
pioneer in contemporary design and styling.
7
This designation applies only to a watch whose movement measures but 1.64 mm. in height
VACHERON
ET
CONSTANTIN
IN
GENEVA
SINCE 1755
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1958, **
THE TIME
IF my memory serves
me right in my ex- treme old age it was in the year 1971 that the Tory Government - nationalised Fathe 3 Christmas.
For you, my dear great- Brund-daughter, I will put these events in proper order.
It was, I think, in the previous year, 1970, that the
THAT THEY NATIONALISED CHRISTMAS...
"Point of order, point of order," with nobody listening.
Mr
And in front of Tory Government denation- George Wigg, who in сп- alised the mines. railways, other quavering old voice electrical and gas industries, was spying strangers in all and in general the means
directions with nobody notic- production and distribution.
ing.
of
They sold the tot for £5,000 million and this cum gave them a wallop of a hump for their annual Budget.
Bai goomD
It was, of course, proposed by Crosland and other economists that this windfall should go to reduce tho troublesome National Debt.
But the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Arthur Tley (Tory West Bradford), said: "Bai goom, what a soom,"
He said in the House that for years the Treasury had been taking capital in death duties and spending it as income and now, bal goom, it was Tory olicy to continue the process.
Harold Witson (Suc Huyton), very sorry to be late
Chancellor, excluinted: "Surely the right hon. gentleman is not aware of what he is saying.
"His words if they are accu-
would mean
the that British taxpayer is not going to pay any taxes at all in this current financial year."
Tale
"Bal goom, lad, thou'rt reet." responded the Chancellor, "1t Is a Jubilee. Sce Leviticus."
Tax free
Someone explained that the proceeds from the sale of these commodities in mines, rałiways, etc., were roughly the same as the annual yield of taxes, and for one year Britain would be tax free.
At such unorthodoxy Wilson passed out.
Mr
He passed out in front of Mr Silverman who, in his quaver- ing old voice, was sereaming:
Finally, the Speaker, Mr George Thomas (Soc., Cardi West) threw OIT hin full bottomed wig and, coming down from the Chair, threw the lull- belloned Mr Wigg cleon out et the Chamber
Wiping his hands, he said: "Order, order," und resumed the Chair.
it is a blot on the otherwise splendid career of Mr Tiley ot the Treasury that he falled to snucipate what would result from his fixing the date for the operation of the Act at Decem- ber 1.
On that date the big-hearted British publie suddenly found that it had the equivalent of £5,000 million of extra spending money in its pockets with only about 20 shopping days to
Christmas.
old story
The result should have been foreseen by the Chancellor's odvisers. It is an old story, but we older people remember. An
broke orgy
out of Yuletido buying.
Everybody at once bought 20 pairs of socks of the wrong size ond sent
them off to everybody else. No- body ordered Christmas pre- sents in less than doxons.
The whole retail trade went haywire on trash to satisfy this market of £5,000 million,
Nobody thought for a moment atations or of buying power
useful things steel ingots or like that.
It got to
BY WILLIAM BARKLEY
Ministers showed the strain, A weary President of the Board of Trade, Me Cyril Osborne (Tory, Louth), said: "We must stop the Christmas trade."
mas everybody should everybody else £6 and that all other gitis should be illegal.
The question the was that these words be there inserted. But after hurried notes between How? It seemed, hopeless. himself and the officials in the But the darkest hour is ever box, Mr Tiley said: "It has before the dawn. A light of been suggested to me that inspiration wrapped the serene great deal of work would be brow of the Grand Old Man. avoided in bank clearance houses 1 It was assumed that everybody exchanged Five Quid without actually doing so,
The Prime Minister, Mr Rab Butler, opened his lips. He did more. He spoke – just twe words: "Nationalise it," he said.
Board
A murmur of approval ran round the Cabinet table, The wise old owl jingling his keys added: "Nationalisation. has never falled yet, Huh! Huh! Huh?
Accordingly a Bill was intro- duced to that effect in one clouse. This proved too simple.
Mr Herbert Morrison (Soc., South Lewisham) said he had some experience and the thing to do was to sel p a Father Christmas Board.
This would issue statutory instruments limiting Christ-
mas
cards to one formula
No gratitude
D
And that, my dear arcat- grand-daugher, ended the Christ- mes trade.
In this way the Dil was possed under the Purilament Act and got the Royal Assent.
It looks easy now but it was dimcult at the time!
gratitude in politles.
But, my dear, there is no Here now for some years we have enjoyed the destruction of the Christmas trade,
off to
No longer are we fobbed by tradesmen from July December on the excUSE that when we want to buy something useful they are sorry but there must be some delay because of the approach of the Christmas
No longer from January to
tradesmen on account of their not having yet recovered from
June are we fobbed off by
rush. and licensing people for the purchase of Christmas pro- sents which could be ro- duced to two or perhaps three types.
the rush of the Christmas trade, One month is now like another. We can get an with
He did not think that the Board need employ more than our affairs all the year round. 15,000 ог, say, 20,000 civil servants, but we should remem- ber that civil servants
Perhaps am
Wines
for the connoisseur...
To Her Mamy
Queen Elizabil," "TI
from the famous Cellars of
HARVEYS
OF BRISTOL'
THE SUPPLIERS OF THE FAMOUS SHERRIES 'BRISTOL MILK" AND "BRISTOL CREAM" Sole Agents:
TR-77
on
old the
TR-610
were grumpy but I fear that very deserving people. However, Socialists will destroy this he was personally opposed to new peace by winning the the whole idea,
forthcoming alection on tho donationalising
of
the point
At this point Mr Tiley said as policy where trame was tangled and brought Chancellor that he had a new Father Christmas. to a standartily with discarded idea. socks, stockings,
He moved to delete
gloves, and everything after the word "that"- scarves, all sent by the dozen in order to insert that at Christ and none of them fitting.
Consols
Sober trade and Industry came to standstill.
a dropped five points. Unemploy- ment 11.5 rampant. Soup klichens were opened when the National Assistance Board ran out of cash.
Inspired
I was clear even to a Tory Government that something must be done.
Weekend Selection
by Friell
"I suppose General Serov is writing his memoirs now like so many of our dear Western generals!!
SENIOR
MID-WEICHT
IRON
MEDWAY
RADIANT
CONVECTOR
But, my dear, we must expect changes in this life,
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