>
THE CHINA MAIL,
FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1961.
Gaitskell's sunny springtime... after the dark
days, the opposition comes back to life
QPRING has come to London at last. The parks
SPRIN
are at their loveliest and even in the sunless corridors and lobbies of Westminster there is a tang in the air, for there this spring is peculiarly spectacular.
By DEREK MARKS
at the older universities.
National Executive published.
should be
All the signs are that 11 new Opposition is cial scholarships which assuro insisted that all three rival de- blossoming forth. Socialist MPA have a lighter tread certain schools of so many places fence policies submitted to the and even some of the most recalcitrant rebels are now Kreeting Chief Whip Herbert Bowden with £ "Good morning."
This is not to SURERNE everything la wet "coming
TOSOR
that.
หม Mi
for and daffexil Gaitskell, but at least the garden
much jollier than it was. At last it seems that the long OVLT defence h
lo quarr about lo end.
Left of centre
The National Executive met recently to approve the new home polley Jocument
1 duced by a committee presided over by Mr Harold Wilson. By enrly June this newlook Social- Ism for the sixties should be circulating in the constituencies, Assuming that Mr Gaitskell accepts this document as is con- fidently expected he will have moved nearer than ever before to the comfortable position de- #ned by Earl Attlee as the ideal for the Labour Party Leader - slightly left of centre,
Exain the nationalisation faste upon which there was much trouble after the Inst election.
A new formula of words has been devised witleh apparently satisfies everybody-in the words of one way. "blank cheque has been substituted for the shopping list.**
A fright
There will be no attempt
a wholesale grab of a long
cheery
of industries-sigur, cement and insurances, for example. Once before this surt of thing not rtals frightened the wits out of
Grared Industrialistä, it the workers as well.
So now old phrases ke retzing the "commandinst heights" egne back in new and more cunningly contrived clothes.
Of course, steel and transport remain subject to overt atfuck,
but for the rest there are such threats as State-owned factories competing against private firms, Which firms? Wall and sec.
As they have looked over the electoral scene the Labour Party experts have realised that the biggest problem faelog yourut married people in the big urban areas is still that of getting a house at a reasonable price.
Hence they plan to give local authorities powers to take over Jand development and anakce hotse buliding cheaper.
This
it is argued is a sure Bre vote winner, particularly in 60 or so durmitory constituencies, the capture of which would see a Labour Government returned.
The schools
Again, the public schools are now definitely for the chopping block.
They are grudunity to bo merged with the state schon at system and with their disappear stance will vanish also those spe-
Is
Now all these ideas are bub- bling merrily away at a time when the Tory Government having a particularly rough pac- bage.
The inept handling of the Wedgwood! Renn case, the st more unfortunate approach la the Blake affnir, the develop- ments in Africa and fantastle wanderings in the labyrinth of The Common Market have a?! lowered the Government's stock. On these issues the Tories themselves are far from united but they are issues upon which the Labour Party Is virtually muntaugas,
Therefore the situation is arising in which we shall at lest have Something approaching un effective Opposition — which is the first step towards persuading the country that there is in being an alternative Government.
This seemed impossible only a mutter of weeks bgn. Now the transformation is there for all to see. Just as vivid and in its wny exciting as the transformnas tion in the parks.
It is still true that there are some 6 to 70 Labour MPs who will never willingly accept Mr. Gaitskell us leader.
But, of course. Mr Gaitskell now appears to be winning and there are many who do not wish to leave it until too late before Jumping aboard his Bantech- nicen.
Defence issue
How has this situation comʊ about? I would say that the change started when Mr Richard Crossman, as party chairman,
AL once ¤ new niluation emerged. The full-blown uni- lateralists, the supporters of the icial line and the compromisers were neatly sorted out,
the
Immediately it was clear that unliaterials were a tiny agreed minority and that an defence polley was possible.
As far as the electorate is concerned it is becoming clear that the Labour Party is not Koing pacifist or neutralist and that it is as willing as the Tories to defend Britain.
And it must be remembered that this, after all was what Mr Gaitskell said he was going to "flight, fight and fight ögain" to achieve.
He has done It-thanks in part to Mr Crossmun. An odd Irony indeed.
Can this new upsurge in the Or will parly be maintained? the strong personal animosilles that stl remain find expression in some new internal explosion? On current form the dullock for Labour
is brighter by far then It has been for a long time. But current form is not the consideration In-Judging only
The post record politicians. speaks for itself.
Far too often the party has bren split allegedly over issues of policy but hi fact over clushes of persimality.
the However, for
moment the black clouds are behinci them; Labour's MPs are joying the spring sunshine while try may and dreaming again of the fruits of ofter.
-(London Express Servict),
~113
once
A world of atoms down
Streatham High
ON any morning in the
week, hundreds of
shoppers on Streatham
By
High Road pass a small ALEXANDER THOMSON
door alongside a rain- coat shop.
stairs is a Up some norrow world of atomic power stations, chemical plants, off refineries and all this mysteries of modern engineering.
It is u world of Michne Houghton and Jack Farrfield, both 32, and a Grm of design specialists they have created.
They are not Streatham boga, Houghton was born in Rochester, Keni Tarndeld in Battersea,
Both studied engineering night school. "I went to the Wandsworth Technical College,” Farnield sny proudly.
Detailed
Four years ago they threw up good jobs as mechanical end electrical engineers to set up un their own.
Their Idea was to start a business that would de detailed design work for lending consuit- ants and contractors,
Now they employ 360 engineers Michael Houghton and Jack
draughtsmen and
and have Farnfeld storted their firm, enit- offees in Cardiff and Birming- ed Devetco Ltd, with £50 each ham, as well as Streatham. in March 1057.
They have a payroll of £7,000 a week, but the fees tey are enrning are now running at rate of £750,000 a year.
Their Brat office was "the front the room" in Jack's house in Moy-
ser-road, Streatham.
Jobs on hand include design work for the renetor core of a £80 million milelear power station at Trawsfynydd,
North
Wales.
"We have had 20 men, on it for the past 12 months,"" Michael Houghton as he showed me round one of the film's draw- ing oflees on three floors over a local cleaners,
For Russia
Michael's wife, Shella, worked as secretary, Jack's wife, Doreen, did the books and looked after the telephone.
Road
which
The lbst of companies for done design work, either directly or indirectly, is impressive.
their firm has already
On it are such big numes as
ICI, British Nylon Spinners, Bri-
tish Oxygen, Burmah Oil, Foster Wheeler and Decca.
|
Twenty-year-old Miss Toni Gardiner, of Ipswich, a £5-a-wook telophonist, has married King Hussein of Jordan.
"LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT THE WRONG NUMBER."
Lundon kapravi dervizo
NOW THAT
THE PIGMIES
HAVE TOPPLED THE GIANT...
Leopoldville.
MIGHTY Moise Tshombe, President of Katanga, son of kings, didn't just walk
by
into a trap. He strutted in. And now, DONALD CAMERON
defeated, cast down, scorned, he sits under
guard of Congolese troops, waiting for dandy, the eyulcat talk of a that he might ever again re- whatever fate his masters may choose for
о
him.
How different was his arrival at the confor- ence of Congolese leaders in Coquilhatville: the talks that became a trap. The haughty black moon of his face glistened. His chest swelled under expensive silk. He tossed cigarettes to the Coquil hatville crowd like a Nell Gywnn distributing
oranges.
sophisticate
turn and lend Katongo. No business mon, he went Why did the rest of the bankrupt. But, ready to flatter Congo leaders hate him sa bis esteem, Belgian friends much that they glory in their came to set him on his feet own treachery?
in.
They have never forgiven Finally, last July, came the hins for declaring mineral-rich touch which made Tchombe a Katanga independent. Taking
din his own eyes.
At the with him 60 percent of the age of 42 he found himself entire wealth of the Congo to supreme ruler of a fabulously be shared among anty 12 per wealthy independent Slote, Ka- cent of its population. tonga, courted and supported
They have never forgiven by the white men who had him his co-operation with the once been so powerful.
While the rest of the Congo Belglans. They have never for
given him
arrogance and writhed under anorchy, U!L-
mockery: only
recently employment, and economic col- called Kasavubu and his col- lapse, Katanga prospered.
leagues "mere schoolboys" Tshumbe had plones and a white-officered army of 5,000 repel the could easily who him think himself a superlor attacks which fizzled in the im- being. In a primitive world Penetrable jungle of his fron- he could consider himself # modern mar; In a world of
He was stronger than Kasavubu, What do these two bright than Lumumba, stronger than UNO. young men
pack pulled him down.
say about their
Why did Tshombe walk into
stronger Until the
the trap? Why, In a jungle Everything about Tshombe's
enreer was calculated to make
sticcess?
Michael: "People these days don't always try hard enough for what they want. Enthusiasm is worth a lot in any business.” world where pulities and band- Jack: "If you know where you try mean the same thing. did working 24 hours a day to get his enemies' territory are going, what's wrong with he go unprotected to parley in there?"
That Is the only He, Mulse Tshombe. President of Kalanga, leader of men, thought he was too big to fear the attacks of former clerks and schoolteachers; poli- by African standards the family tical pigenies.
Michael: "Our only ambition
At first the going was tough, to build up the largest and said "That
finest design organisation In the Christmas," Michael Houghton recalled,
"we could world."
These two friends not afford turkey. We had roast having their offices redecorated. beef, instead.
They have also bought them- selves a couple of Jaguars.
Other projects are helping to design
a chemical factory for
By early 1958 they were em ploying 20 draughtsmen. The hig break through came that winter. Expansion has been swift ver sinen.
until alx months ago,"
are now
"We don't like spending money on luxuries." Houghton explain- ed. "But we've decided it's time to put on a bit of a fron!.
We were taught a lessen when Russia, and preparing drawings said Jack Farnelti, "we paid an important client fell over for an extension to another plant ourselves only £13 a week, much hole
uld carpet. We
-(London Express Scrvico).
2110 111
in Scotland owned by Distillers less than we were earning in haven't seen him since. and British Petroleum.
ECCLES
MORE PAY PLEASE!
Cummings
our old jobs."
TEACHERS ENTRANCE
PUPILS' ENTRANCE
Pride. answer.
Modern
poverty, a rich one.
On
tlers.
More
Lumumba
And
Defiance...
hia he
what of the United Nations, which always main- lained that he was the main His father owned a chain of
obstacle to peace in the Congo? stores and a European hotel-
Tshombe defled the United were millionaires.
flattering $11, his Nations when it tried to run northern neighbour, Kosavubu, his affairs. He had good secondary
3000 came to him for help: education at an Americon mla- Patrice Lumumba was bedevil- At first he refused to let sion school, IIe inherited a
his country ling the life of Leopoldville, UNO troops enter large estate.
could Tshombe look after him and later dictated which na- "evolue," meaning that the
In safe
With custody?
lenalties he would allow and Was he not a member of the Belgian masters of his country magnanimous gestare, the Ka- which he would not. Lunda royal family? Had he treated him as an equal,
de- He laughed at UNO's tanga lender ogreed to take So Moise grew up. not fathered 10 children by a
Hugely
mands that all Belgians should daughter of ils paramount bullt, handsome, he sported care of Lumumba. For good.
leave the Congo. chief?
foppish clothes, the air of a In March Taliombe went to
Of course, UND 1 delighted the Madagascar rount-Loble meeling of Congo leaders. To by his downfall, ference whichever WRY he opponents may well had that in breaking Tahombe they have broken the only stable 11-
"But, hoad master, how can the poor parents afford to pay more taxes to meet your clalm!”,
п
found he could twist the con-
wanted.
But UNO and his other
-(London Express Service).
His proposals for federation fluence in this torn und trou- were eagerly accepted by the bled land. other chlets. There could be no doubt about it, ke, Tahombe, was the glant of the Congo.
Bo why not accept the in- vitation to talks in Coquiitiat-: ville? Why not show again hin supreme grasp, his Intelligence, his leadership? Who would dare stand against him?
Broken
QUOTE
-by a doctor in Stethoscope, the medical monthly:-
ALL
know
renerst practitioners that ....an enormous amount of prescribing under são Health Service is wasteful and There woo another point, unnecessary. It is bigt slong the Katonga's boom had started to patient realised this as well.and stacken and there were rumbles became a bit more self-reliant...-- from other African powers a little leds of a baby "bolliefed"
Tshombe's high-handed | by his doulor.
about
actions.
It might do no harm 10 maintain a semblance of co-by Lord James of Rusholme, operation with the rest of the vice-Chancellor designate of the Costgo.
University of Yotk yestertlay:— Bo Molce Tahombe went tot we do not reaise the Im- Coqulihstville, And now to portance of rducation na a slis under paratroop guard in whole aliit lesa do wo acknow. a vills there, a broken, Leigh ledge the importance of the tened man, tasting the bitter- primary stage,. Yet is is in the Primary-nohnots thai sonis, of Whether he will live or die is the most Imaginativo and inter- in the balance: only the power erling experiments are being and initiative he once showed carried out. gives the faintest gizain of hope
nens of defeat.
London Express Service)."