The death of the middle classes
St
HARTLEY
SHAW by Sir Graham
CROSS enid the other
day: "We do realise CUNNINGHAM
acutely the great hardships under which a great many of the people have to live, parti- cularly the middle classes." He is not the only Labour politician to talk in this strain. Mr Her- bort Morrison made A similar speech a few weeks ago.
But what behind these as- surances? Some people regard them purely as vote-catching devices, aimed at offsetting the harm done by Mr Shinwell's notorious. "tinker's .cuss" speech.
We must regard these, stale- ments as sincere, but neverthe- less it is a fact that many. La- bour supporters
still ardently preach class warfare. Only the other day a trade union leader
1 member of the now Economic Planning Board. Sir Graham was tho war- time Controllar-General of Munition. Production at the Ministry of Supply: he is now the chairman and managing director of Triplex Safety Class.
This figure
mately £17 10s per head of the represents approxi-
working population of twenty million. In other words, had there been no subsidy, every breadwinner would have had to pay £17 10s, a for his food, but it is year more not every one of the working popula- tion who pays £17 10s. for the food subsidy.
told a meeting: "We all known of the
we must not say things like Mr Shinweil said in his tinker's euss' speech." Then he added: "Not that we care a tinker's cuss!"
Chiss hatred
agamst middle classes is based
envy.
life.
the
The heaviest part of taxation is being borne to-day by the middle- class. To u my, for the sake of argument, that they embrace five breadwinners men- above.
the Then,
instead
Οι every breadwinner paying his own
17
middle-class bread- 10s, the winners have pald £70 each. (This Agure is, of course, very rough, and Is Intended purely to illustrute my brgument.)
DAB AND FLOUNDER
by Walter
I watched them kill..
I walked away
M
CAPITAL CITY, 1947.
This moving account of India's tragedy, seen through the eyes of an Indian of no importance, was written by CHRISTINE WESTON, author of the best-seller, Indigo. Mrs. Weston was born in India and has spent a large part of her life there.
ព
Grimethorpe Raises A Question
By ERNEST THURTLE, M.P.
THE Grimethorpe.strike has Considering the economic
T
crisis
raised, in un acute form, and the new austerites brought in the question of discipline, evidence of the ecntinued strength is train, the victory is remarkable of the Government's position.
in a nationalised industry.
Trade union theory has never surrendered the right to strike, after due notice given.
It has been held to be the last sacred sanction of organised labour against injustice.
But it is against private cm-" ployers that tiria fight has been so sturdily maintained.
Is the situation the same when, as in the coal industry, the employer is the nation?
And can the State run indus try effectively if the right of the workers to defy its au-
Is dificult enough, even when one thority with impunity is to be thinks one knows it.
I tell him what the Hindus did to the Moslems in Bihar, and when I have finished, he gives a short laugh and tells me that he has heard what the Moslems dild 10 the Hindus in Lahore, We look at each other, then he shakes his head and says, "What the hell, Allah Вих Here we are, you and I, two rea- sonable. law-abiding people,
recognised?
*
⭑
On the other hand, the negligible vote of the worthy Liberal candi- date, resulting in the humiliation of a lost deposit, serves once again to how thai, the day of that party is
over.
It may not lie down, but it is dead.
Detected
Fewer
Criminals
Detectives in England and Wales were less successful in solving crime last year than in
1945.
"NO" would seem to be the answer to both these ques- tions. And, unless agreement In their report for the year ended can be reached on this basis, September 20, 1946, His Majesty's nationalised
run Inspectors of Constabulary show that
industries
Keep the windows barred and the fantasy, Tik nal, eh? taiking i grave risks of coming to grief. of Indictable crimes committed, the
rurtains drawn. I shall be back at the usual time."
But if you should not return at the usual time?"
"Then wait for me." "But if I
Y name is Allah, Bux. To utter its' Moslem syllables sounds like confession of sin in these days whon a man's name-like the cut of his coat, the way he ties if I should wait and sull you hls turban, and whether he
do not return?" wears breeches or a dhoti-may and we look into each other's faces, "I shall return." I tell her armly, decide whether his neighbours and part. Out on the street, I stand which is small and shabby and has or will condemn him to die.
the My name is Allah Bux, and a flat roof. where we sit in I am a totally insignificant per summer and where Nasa' knows evenings and whore we sleep in son. I live in Calcutta with my she must co it ever there is trouble
of those in the street. wife, Natisa, in one
Food!! He is a kind man and he means well, but he doesn't understand.
He doesn't
understand what it feels like to watch an old acquain tance come toward you
through the dusk of a deserted Inne, to see him hesitate and reach into his breast the handle of the knife at your belt. while your own fingers clanch on
cannot feel as I do
when I
upon NUPPOSING, as some people would Some members of the Su
ke, the burden of taxation on working eleases believe the the middle classes is Increased still middle classes enjoy an exces- further, what would happen? It sive share of the good things of night well be that they would be will accord him the boon of life for a moment and gaze at my house, Where Are The Police?
forced out of existence. Already many middleclass fathers have such heavy obligations that they cannot, as in the past afford to train their sons for the professions.
If this process of squeezing out the middle classes accelerated, they could rapidly become extinct. In effect, we should then all be reduced the same common denorinator of "Fine!" you may say, "I
Yes, but remember this: there will heartily in favour," be no one to pay thut £70 subsidy above. Everyone will mentioned have to pay his
own share, but to education, health and all the her pubile services subsidised by the middic classes either throuan rates and taxes or through voluntary Unnations,
there may have IN the past
been some truth in this con- tention. Today the situation has changed entirely.
As recent correspondence in the papers has shown. many middle-class people are today enduring hardship for which little or no regard is given by those politicians who so harshly criticise. They
mainly people whose pay has stood still but whose expenses have in- creased.
Are
the working classes."
ori
In Soviet Russia strikes of mine-percentage detected
dropped by workers do not take place, because much as 11.0 percent in Manchester.
from one
one percent in Cardiff to ከዚ to authority there has made it clear the workers In the industry that a
Liverpool hid
the lowest percen strike is not a weapon open to them.
tage of detections, only 23 percent Can such a altuation be
of crlines being cleared up, while brought about in Britain? I do not know, Lancashire had the best record with but clearly Grimethorpe is a wams
58.3 percent detection
Kent was and rapid thinking on the subject. ing that there must be some hard
next highest with 57.0.
Examining the enuses of the drop, the report says detective depart *
ments in many cases had not suffi cient men to give full attention to
*
the Commons will be called to- gether before October 20.
This will apply not only to food two miles from where live. I visited doorsteps, their women have and says, "You're all equally bad, Charles the First forced his way into
CIR HARTLEY SHAWCROSS, in
a
started work at rupees 15
that I am month, and now durwan-a doormant-I receive rupees 36, and there is talk of a further raise if all goes well. Life Is Precious
Yet despite this state of affair, his speech, went on to mention all goes well!
they continue to shoulder the big- rest burden in taxation,
years.
When
to
the Commons and demanded to know of the Speaker where certain members were the Speaker replied: "I have neither eyes to see, ner tongue to speak in th's place, but as the House is pleased to diret me,"
are recenstrueling the Cabinet
No Strika Disordor The inspectors say the year was one of transition, and police forces worked under many difficulties,
MILWAUKEE FINGERPRINTS BARKEEPS
listen to the tales told me by people FOR all his kindness the sahib GATHER it is now unlikely that crime.
whose familles have been burned
At one time I was thought that alive in the bustees, or mullated.
the meeting of the Lords might small lanes just off Manonar-Gazing at it. I am reminded of a or mysteriously lost.
crente a situation necessitating the
But disorder and unseemly be- rooftops where woment road, south-east of the Maidan, the great park where the dead were stormed, and where they have police are about that they don't put
earfler calling together of the elected havlour in connection with strikes gathered when have gath
their homes The sahib asks me what the House!
and disputes have fortunately been viceroys ride their stone died when the houses were burned down the lawlessness. The police!
By their
refusal to disclose in-almost completely absent." from under them
"This can be said of very few chargers across the grass.
formation to the Lords, 'n advance or when thair How can I make him understand of the For 20 enemies came and found them. I am 60 years old.
of the Commons, the countries in the world, if any, and meeting that in our country a man is first Hindus
speaks volumes Government emulated, in a way, the and Sikhs and Moslems
for the common years, I have been employed by have always lived
Moslem, or 12
sense Sikh, or a Hindu, loyalty of the famous Speaker Lent- this street, and only then a policeman? When I hail to the House.
and reasonableness
of the a large jute company whose their children have played together tell him this, he shakes his head
people of this country and for the offices are on Clive-street. about on the
It will be
recalled that
When riendly relationship which exists and gossiped after the fashion Allah Bux.
between pollee and public." You're hopeless. Tik
In spite of women all over the world, and I nal!”
of uncasines In the have walked with my neighbours
forces over such matters as housing, Yesterday,
when I walked
pay and conditions, the inspectors on my way to work.
work, the sun was more than usually
are satisfied that the police service But now, when I say good-bye to
Streets, walls, the sky itself
is sound. Nafisa, I stand looking at my house setmed turned to brass. and down the street, and I feel that I been trouble on Chowringhee, and then I turn and glacee up and The night before last, there had have been alienated from a place some of the side streets wore still and people familiar to me for 20 barred by steel helmeted police. For
*. M Doors and windows that have al- take an unfamiliar route, and so
this
reason, I hyha And if all
compelled to THE amateur political weedworkers these services: "Our aim-I am not
does not go well, if I should retain out and inimical. W now approached my destination from the again. One phrase beloved of them
shut and saying we have reached it yet..is be killed, what is to become of Sikh or a Hindu approaches me, I devastated in last year's riots.
south, skirting the areas that were all is the necessity for "cutting out make the State educational
the dead wood." Nafisu? We have no children turn aside to avoid his glance, and Eventually, walked up a street yalem and the State medical ser- and our few relatives are poorer I knew that what is passing my that I know must take me vice better tean
mind is passing in his also, and that Dalhousic-sou The middle than we are and live far away. each of us is wondering when no distinct from which it is dasses, like the rest of the
If I should die, what will become will be called upon to act.
ance to Clive-street.
Every- thing seemed normal; people were munity, have to pay for these ser-of Nafsa? It would be better if we
walking or bicycling to their work; by
to taxation. They must be were die together-yes, that vices
No Longer Safe
buses and taxis were rushing to and made so good that the middle class would be much better. That is what
fro, the coloured turbans of the will use them in preference to pri- we both hope for in our hearts,
Sikh drivers looking like flowers in vale services for which they have though we do not speak of it, for WALK down the street in the
'the sua. to pay over again.”
He is precious, even at our age, direction of Chowringhee, avoid- The average weekly pay-packet of
and there is always a chance that Ing the old short cuts, because they entering into an argu- things may improve, Without the working classes has increased by
A Knifo that sanity are no longer safe. Avoiding short
...A Stab 85 per cent, and the cost of essential ment on nationalisation, Sir Hartley's may return to our world, and that cuts, avoiding that figure and this foods has increased by only 22 per vision of the future does read to me may
We may be permitted to live out pair of eyes, thinking of Nafisa, I PRESENTLY, it cormed to me that way) like a death our appointed time. cent, but prices of ather commodlils (if he gets his
"knell
the crowd-had-thinned out and for the middle classes, for it have risen by amounts varying from
Nevertheless, I am, haunted by fare at last ip the great thorough
of Chowringhee and mingle that I had come upon presumes a complete standardisation concern for Naflon, whom I love, with the crowd, Hall and Ander noticed two men standing bescie 4 70 to 117 per cent.
sort of Every morning, when we have the corner near This may be a good thing. But our prayers and eaten and I am son's I cross the street to the Mal- door, hot ten paces away. hope
that before they go any preparing to set out for my work, dan, For some reason I always
There was no scuffle, no warning further those who want to kill oft Nafisa clings to me and begs me feel better when I reach the Mat- of what was about to happen, before the middle classes will count the
to be careful.
dan, perhaps because of the sense I saw one of the anen lift his right cost very, carefully. For, if they "And you," I reply, "you, Nafisa, of space and ale.
arm and bury a knife deep in the succeed, they will have to pay all be careful also. Don't go out of
neck of the second man, bury it their own bills; there will be no the house until I come home. Don't An American sahib into whose up to the hilt, and say the stricken middle classes left to help out by answer a knock on the door unless department my .duty sometimes mun fall, slowly, as though hesitat subsidies.
you are sure it is one of our friends, takes me asked me once whether I ing, his hands groping toward the had witnesed any of the events of August, when Hindus and Moslems slaughtered each other by the thousand on the streets of Calcutta.
We all see, in our everyday lives, exemples of enormous increases in A packet of prices since the war. cigarettes that used to cost 1s, now cepts 38. 4d. Men's ruits that for nierly east from £0 to £12 nov cost £20, £39, and even £49. A chicken which before the war cost from fis, to 8s. Now costs from 10s. to si
WHY has food not similarly in
creused in price? The answer is because the Government have subsidised it to the extent of £317 million * year. How? From the taxes paid by the middle classes.
A
to
be obtained privatag that can
1
com-
LETTER FROM AMERICA
Anti-Marshall Plan
was
by GERALD JOHNSON
BALTIMORE. TERBERT HOOVER, the H former
President. quoted the other day as saying: lish itself firmly in any coun- "Britain never was, in serious. try.
moves
como.
he
to
a
Mr Atle is said to be on the point of carrying out this major
operation.
A new Milwaukee city coun- Well and good. But which is the ci provision for fingerprinting dend wood? Oddly enough nobody bartenders when they receive is prepared to say, "No names, no required medical examinations pack drill, seems to be the cautious before applying for bartenders motig of these commentators.
Odly when (and it) the Prime licences has caused rejection of Minister takes up the axe and many applicants on grounds of slashes with it shall we know which poor health. wood in considers dead.
txi
The city found some bartenders *
were obtaining required medical ceruncates-after-only perfunctory MEANTIME, within the Labour examinations or having others take ence of view on the matter. Minis. Bngerprinting practice stopped that Party itself there is wide differ. the examinations for them. The ters regarded by seme as dead wood
15 applicants were re- able timber. ann considered by others to be valutected and 87 others were
porarily refeeted by the city, health Moscow fellow travellers, who re-
In our midst, for exemple, are the department.
Lung tuberculosis caused 13 of 15 dead gard even Mr Bev'n as a piece of applicants to be rejected. while the great majority of us re-stages of T.B. Of the 87 imporarily wood better dispensed with, Eight of the 13 had advanced gard him as a valuable chunk of rejected, 42 had non-communicable seasoned British oak,
syphilis and others Had pyorrhea, pixlosopher trench mouth, and communicable skin diseases. Six were reported just "plain dirty."
Some 3,375 applicants Edge Bull by-election result had enlarged hearts, 222 had diseased examined. Examiners found 134 las naturally given great satis-blood vessels and five
It all depends, Jood would say.
★
ground.
I had come to a stop and was so that I forgot to look at the one who interested in watching the man fall had
stabbed him. I forgot to notice I explained that I had neither anything else-Indeed, I saw nothing sten nor heard anything, since I happen to live in an outlying neigh. else only that Agure slowly collaps" faction to Labour. bourhood, one that has so far es-
Ing toward
the pavement. caped all but the echo af horror, Then I lowered my umbrella so
that it shielded It is true that although a sense ing the street face, and, cross-
strost, modo
203
★
my way SIDE GLANCES It was obviously intended to pre-of falling is everywhere a sense of quickly to the square and from
of myself have seen almost none of it,
bleeding, a sense of burning-I there to the jute company.
That morning I did not speak to
pare the country for the calling an extra session of Congress October or November.
in But I have been told of my friends' anyone of what I had seen, but later
experiences, and I have read ac- counts and seen pictures in nowIS papers and in the propaganda leaf. leis published by the rival com- munities.
danger of defeat, and Japan President Truman has made The Administration has wished to would not have attacked this such efforts to appease this sen- avold this for two reasons:-- country had she not been pro voked, therefore the United States might as well have stayed out of the war,”
The implication is plain. Hoover belleves it was all the fault of Roosevelt, the man who- defeated Hoover.
timent that he has driven Left 1. That members, having their"] wing Democrats led by Henry holidays out short, Wallace into open, revolt.
Wallace is now threatening to
will return to Washington in surly mood and may
C..
A Bad Dream organise a third party. If this were. But out of hand on domcalle issues.THESE--photographs are all alike
-they and their captions attempted most observers agree it 2. That legislation to traplemant differing only in the identity of the would assure the election of a Ro- the Marshall Plan should have victims.
publican.
in the day the American sahib sent for me on some business, and when I wis preparing to leave his presence, ho stopped to, saying, "What's the matter,
Allah Bux? You look sick."
lind not meant to tell him. I had, in fact, intended to keep the even from matter entirely secret, Nafen, and thus, in a fashion, from myself also, for I know that words lend a reality to events that might longer consideration before it is
When I tell this to the American otherwise fade and be lost in forget-
fulness. introduced.
sahib, he smiles, "Well, maybe this Yet, when the sahib spoke to me trouble is a dream after all, Allah in his kind voice, I replied without It was a glaring indiscretion MERICAN opinion, exclusive of
But the dollar crisis is forcing the Bux," he says. "All these stories hesitation: "This morning when I Zionists, apparently supports President's hand,
of women and children being burned was coming to work, air, I saw a silve; these forced conversions, the man killed." rape, the destruction, the loot.
DOUBTFUL SUPPORT
if Hoover was quoted correctly; the United Nations report
but it represents what a small Falestine, but doubtfully and ro
on If he goes to Congress with an
but powerful faction in this luctantly.
-considered programme the Hoover country would like to think; The report Ratly contravenes two men will pounce upon it glee
trends of American political thought, fully and the altitation will be a
It advocates partition, whereas nasty one.
If the people can be persuaded to believe that Roosevelt led thom into a useless war, they may repudiate hot only his memory but also his social pro- gramme.
Hoover's outburst represents.
the trend in the United States has.
been steadily toward closer federa-Yet apparently, he must assume ton. It bases citizenship en res that the crisis will not wait.
gious bellet, whereas
the organic
law of this country forbids poll- tical recognition of any religious
SKIRTS CRISIS-
"What was it an accident?" "Maybe this damned curfew, and "No, air, it was no accident. It the babus being too scared to come was murder. One man lifted a to work, and all the delays and fenife, like that, and Bank it in the hold-ups and loes of time and neck of another, like this," money and the effect on my tem- The, aahib stand at me for a having had a bad dream in the night. Who did ita Hindu or Moslem?" ner аго all due to somebody's
y's moment, then he said: "Murder? "Now, Allah Bux, wil you kindly "That I could not tell," I said. go and and that chuprassle and asic "Both were him why in thunder be forgot to Europounds, but both wore falth
lake these latters to the post office, but guarantees free exercise THE cost of living continues to and tell him what's going to hap
"Did the police get the murderer?" of all.
"I don't know, sir, I did not a new form of isolationism now?
Americans
mount, but experis say the pen to him when he wakes up? welt to ace what happened."" appearing in the United States, character in approving partition, accounted for in part not by higher is genial, and it is not difficult to Didn't you give the alarm? Didn'
acting out of slump in retail sales in August is Like most Americans, the anhlb
"But you asy you were there! capecially on religious grounds, and prices but by lower skirts. It makes them uncomfortable.
zolic to him. He la Inquisitive and you try to catch the murderer?" they will probably accept.
But for lack of anything better,
nover herliates to ask questions, I said slowly: "Str, these bre American women are showing ven questions that he must know terrible times. No one is safe. Sale. unusual resistance to the new will embarrass me. "Who's at the yes in anonymity, in keeping styles.
bottom of this gol-mal, Allah Bux? quiet, in minding one's own business. Your crowd or the other?. The trade, however, is not much you just take turns?
Or do Let the police attend do it. It is disturbed. Cynical dealers say that You know I won't say anything."
Come on their.responsibility, not mino." with the coming of autumn the re- I answer carefully, reaching al sistance will break down as usual. ways for the truth, which God knows
It is based on the extreme Con sorvatives" hatred of Socialism. Fierce hostilities to the Mar- ahall Plan may be expected from the group: They profess to be willing to vote money for famine relief but not to help a Socialist Government to estab
are
HOLIDAY CUT?
[INDER-SECRETARY of Stalo on economic conditions in Europe.
Lovett has issued a grim report
"But you fold me once that you didn't trust the policef"
(Conilauea on Page 10)
were
bad hung
tumours.
By Galbraith
PREMARIZELETA GERNIS, ING., T. M. JEG I
"Remember that 'unavoidablo increase when you sold us that now oor? Well, now the same thing has happened to the rant of your suite!"!