Are You Sure?
Answers on Page 10
1. The Latin epliaph In St
Paul's Cathedral: "If you seek la monument, look around."
Is that of
Sir Richard Whittington, John Stow,
Sir Christopher
Wren, Grinding, Gibbons, Sir
William Walworth?
2. Who made
famous-
these songs
Hot Tripe and Outons, Boiled Beef and Carrots, Hot Maal Ples, Saveloys and Trotters?
3. If
were going'at a testudinal pace you would be moylog--
YULI
At a small's paer, like a tor- tvice, by traps and bounds in
a series of short runx?
4. Signals at sea, Do you know what they mean?
2004
8
5. How many General Klee. tians have been held in Britain b the last 20 years-
Three, four, serve, right,
ten?
6. In what spurts are these terms used
Bally-off. chuckka, puck, serummage:
7. Who did make a habit of sleeping on
on a clothes dur
Tramps, plit-rope walkers,
raliray julasengers, eur stars, wet blanting?
8. Which is the greater
these fleures-
Highest souterr
1521-
THE the
greatest known neran depth
ม. Would you find a con. chologis-
it
On the arn shore, under chestnut tree, he a surgery, in a beliru?
10. What is a muzwump. Average person, foul, great chief, servant?
KAN CATTINTANCE AND RAIDERANGKARTLAMANTTI
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1947.
WHAT'S BEHIND
AIR
T
MUDDLE
To help those bewildered by the two post-war years of criticism, delays, alang- ing, denids, counter-denials and costly chaos which punctuate
By BASIL CARDEW
From the start and all the the sad tale of Britain's bid at time-there has been friction fong-distance air transport, I between the plane makers, the present the subject under four people who are to run them, and short chapters:-
the people who order them... the Ministry of Supply.
ΑΤ
CHAPTER
1
The Heart of the Problem
T the end of the war we bad concentrated the whole of our aircraft production on bom- |bers and fighters, and had left transport planes to the Ameri.
cans.
CHAPTER 2
The Makers' View
RMS that during six years of war had proved they could de- sign and build the best warplanes in
that their the world claim
civit planes were criticised and ancered at
they reached ever
before Brabazon assembly stage.
But in 1943 the committee of experts, unable to interfere with our bomber cum- paign, decided there should be wo British airliners as an in- terim measure. These were to use the wings, engines and in- stallations of the latest develop- ment of the Lancaster bomber, fitted with a large rutind fuse- ilage. Thus the Tudor 1.
Tuckor II, came into beings peacetime civilian mortifications of the Lancaster,
Tic
the
They found that specifications ingreed to by the Ministry of Supply were constantly faulted by the ale fine technicians, whost world ser- vices were to use them. The cease less demand for alterations held up production, discouraged the workers
made the original dates a joke.
delivery
en caught between the Ministry The makers feel that they have
of Supply, who gave the orders, and the miles, which have to run the plans, Sir Roy Dolsson but their case, when he said about the Tudor:
on
THIS
IT IS THE CLASH BETWEEN THE AIRLINE TECHNICIANS AND THE AIRCRAFT MAKENS WHICH HAS PRODUCED THE TUDOR FLARE-UP.
:
CHAPTER 4
What Is the next move?
next
must go on using American aircraft EXPRESSED brutally, the
move is easy, "We as at present.
Labour
point
OT
Mr Pegler Accuses 'Flabby Cockneys'
by BEVERLEY BAXTER, MP
(JES731 2LISERALIILLOTUTANK MATU||29||||||||||||||
ERNEST THURTLE. M.P. present squabbling in the obvious OME achieve repose. Sonic Tory M.P.8 and business men go MR. PEGLER has also this to say:
Shave repose
TIROM time to time some Cockneys in quite unshakable, MIY member of the Government own opinion is that there are not enough Cockneys in the Govern- points out, more in sorrow than ment, but we shall let that pass. in anger, that peregrinating
thrust upon to America and let
the
side
4
But what does emerge from all this
need to learn from It all the lessons,
"The experiment was capri- we can, and thereby avold the same them, as in the case of Mr Ar-down. The charge is that by clous and mad, disastrous deadlock occurring again. thur Greenwood.
It was obvious that decrying their own Government People educated and trained for The problem is not easy. It is not In Labour circles the news they are really selling Britain rations in the science of govern- a straight cane of black versus white of
ment should govern better than his exclusion from the short. a fact which is sometimes forgot Government was received with
crow of roustabouts. The Unloneers But it must not be thought that had long insisted on the merits of by the people America and say: "That's the way to
who point to mixed feelings.,
the Americans rely only upon Bri- training
through
apprenticeship. get good alliners."
sh tourists and lecturers for their They wouldn't
let a navvy run impression of the Socialist experl- loom, But they had the reckless ment In Britain. The growing
eminent nerve to bid for the job of running volume of opinion which believes that the American system is better
ten
Nevertheless, there is n
than ours.
tween the two is this:
I
It may well be, I think, that Arthur was no longer equal to the exacting responsibilities of magazine Life sent Mr Dos Passos the country and the misfortune to high office in a time of crisis. to see things for himself, and on his win. and in such a case sympathy return Mr Passos wrote an article of Somewhat
such astonishing length that one's see what he means. But Mr Pegler
overstated-though for the individual must take Fundamentally, the difference be-second place to the larger new weary during the PCs should not rate the intelligence of
"Britain's
Dim Dictatorship" he his readers too low. The principal general interest.
called it, and his story of these members of In the United States the
the Government had airlines deal direct
private Yet he has done so much for Islands was so melancholy that it served five years in Mr Churchill's manufacturers.
with airplane the party, has been so lovable bordered on the ridiculous.
Coalition, and were not ns inexperi The usual system is
Yet that, having approved a design, the and loyal a figure in the move-
even the Inspissated
gloom of enced as he seems to think. Mr Dos Passos is nothing to the airline places an order-subject
ment, invariably cheerful and magniflent contempt of Mr West agalust the "Unioneer." There is a Mr Pegler exaggerates the ease the prototype proving satisfactory. devoid of rancour, that his re-brook Pegler, a columnist of high hard core of common sense in the
rc- office evokes This stimulates the maker in tye moval from
standing, who writes for 200 news- trade union movement, and a sense papers. Not even Sir ways! (a) he has the "boost
Waldron of responsibility to the nation. It is dor; (b) he must satisfy the cus the Prime Minister, as he him- morale which comes with a big or-
to gret.
There can be no doubt that Smithers has breathed such cures only when the TUC believes itself to
upon Socialism.
be the Government that it comes temer--and quickly.
within the reach of Mr Pegler's denunciation.
There is, however, one serious
self confesses, found this Here in England, S I have ex-bowler-batting of an old friend plained, three different voles have and colleague (who, but for to be heard and the least effective electoral misfortune in 1931. "There has been more spent voice at the birth of a plane comes might indeed be standing there has been on actual production in the end. alterations and messing about than from the people who have to run it
the premier place today) a iru- aero- of the mureraft, #1 is not just a ques-
ly distasteful business. more tion of alterations but it is the never..
ending stream of them
The plan- mng people and the technical stairs are not going to tell their new bosses they have made a hash of things, à far as they are concerned the jame poley has got to be
But the round fuselage niter. fed the whole construction of the
plane. It produced new dynamic problems and fundamental songs than anyone thought possible. 'Th 1945 went by: then 1946; even half-way in 1947-and still 1 Į paying passenger has ever bron
carried in a Tudor.
"Flying Hairpins" such
Are Dangerous
Mount Vern
Ilinois), schoni-
boys will have to strip shooting hair-
tot.
CHAPTER 3
*
·
MR. PEGLER begins ha indictment
by declaring that the TUC, charge made by the American although n small minority of the columnist whith deserves the country. runs the Drilisk Govern serious thought of us all. He de- inment.
clares that if any other British Gov- According to Mr Pegler the "Bri- ernment had "come whining to the teh Unioneer has learned a little TUC" for
compulsory direction of from Hitler, a little from Uncle Joe worke the Labour movement and a lot from ou own Fays and would have howled for bloody re- Bayes." I don't know what Pays volution.
Boves and
actual are, whether
Mr Perier is not the only one who names or figures of sprech, but we has written and spoken in these can safely assume that Mr Pegler is terms. Responsible members and against them.
supporters of the Government have frequently said that if the Tories und been elected in
1045 there would have been a general strike.
Therefore
Just now you hear among milne speratives loud sup→ port for depending with the Ministry of Supply and allowing direct con- THE appointment of Sle Stafford fact between user and seller. In- Cripps as Minister of Economic deed, these people argue that no Affairs has been well received. more committees are nerded as there carried
The Operating Compankes' View
*༥་
Labour's view is that he is the
TF the Socialists resent Mr Pegler's article as an Insult, let them
is already in existence the Commit-right man in the right place, and the The famous columnlet then ex
of Chatrmen--cumprising the fact that the post has been created plains the General Election of 1943 heads of all three British airlines.
is welcomed
evidence that the in these forms: maddiine for, planning our economy "By a conspiracy of conditions the Qur rystem is defended by the sin process of construction.
lower orders were so manipulated Government because it argues, no Sir Stafford has achieved a repu-that they seemed to win an election MORE than anything, the operating Brith aircraft builder can afford totation for realism and thoroughness, and the right to try their hand at remember that they were the dest
huild a prototype with the risk that and he has a persuasive way airītne companies resented the it won't rug the bell and get
with | government. This was terrible the the pealeltrani, which is not Government-impsed edict that their order.
the thing for Britain, but no less awful feast of his merits in getting things for the working classes than for the
aris
Was there" any "other" way" oul. of the difliculty? The obvious jone was to buy American planes.
as the
Constellation. This was no real solution (a) because it was a costly item in
airliners should be ordered through dollars; (b) even more impor-
single atent-the Ministry tant, you cannot build
up Supply. They resented not bring allowed to contact the makers direct
vi
*
*
pins at people by order of Police national prestige in aviation by selecting, ortiering, and approving: KELL, Wiere is the deadlock. The
Chief Verner Pak.
buying another country's air craft.
in
the
to
Tudor controversy is only inus-
tration of a fundamental clash,
done.
*
ANLARGED
*
reponsibility
to accuse Labour of being deter- mined to put itself abore the nation. Mr Pegler's article too blunt, too lacking in nuance, just as the became the sponsors of an one by Mr Dos Passos was too grim. unbelievably flabby, frightened and But I the Government become dejected gang rxt white-collar angry when a visiting Briton tells ENLA
has Cockneys when the perlis and prob- the Wisconsin Women's Debating come to him at a trying me, called for the finest intelligence, Society that Socialism is falling in when he will have to contend with ability, courage and dignity in the Britam, let them realise that it some iteulties beyond his CX71-
Kingdom."
American writers, with immense One can almost see Ugh Dalton, readership such as that enjoyed by Nevertheless, IL is results that Artley Shaweross, Stuffy Cripps and Mr Westbrook Pegler, Mr Walter ent, and our new Economie Con- Mister Hattice dropping altches all Lippmanis and Mr Dos Passos who all its eggs in the Tudors for their techmeans to the factories to served as a
If I am right they should be pre-troller will be judged by these. over the place and trying to pre- really paint the portrait of Socialist
warning-the most!lest I recall that in the early days of tend they
bricks. were only
The Britain for Americans to gaze upon. fast long-distance
land-plane keep an eye on the planes in con imaginable-of how to lose prestige the Government he told me that he American conviction that English-
And certainly they cannot be servico.
was content to be so judged.
are divided into dukes and accused of leaving out the warts.
"A man and women haver been lo- jured by the flying hairpins,” the
Nevertheless, Britain did buy chlef said. thus dangerous prac tice must stop immediately before aircraft from America to get someone loses an tye."
Meanwhile, the hairpin business is booming. One sture reported the youngsters bought 75 packages
aml hairpins in one day,
Several stores have bren sold at
them going on the Atlantic run. Meanwhile the Government put
My own view is that in the end
machines. They objected having prototypes approved by the Ministry of a bale price and then, after delivery delays, finding the cost ter them had increased considerably senger trattle on the main trunk trok. beyond that agreed price.
The next best step was to send
struction.
the Tudors will not be used for pas-
routes.
in the air.
VIGNETTES OF LIFE
"DON'T YOU SEE ... THE MAN WITH THE "LADDER SAID TO THE
COP, 'WHAT LADDER?' DON'T YOU SEE, IT WAS A TWENTY-FOOT
LADDER AND
*SHE'S HOUSE-
BUSTED A VERY
PLAYFUL AN
Ele
ETC
"OVER MY DEAD BODY
met
"Hard Labour”
Bŋ KEMP STARRETT
"YOU PROMISED TO HELP ME STRAIGHTEN OUT THE PANTRY...AND THE CELLAR AND I DID THEA ALL MYSELF.
NOW WILL YOU PLEASE JUCT TIE UP A PACKAGE FOR ME.
PLEASE! FRED, WILL YOU-..?
A
TRYING TO PUT OVER THE POINT OF A FUNNY STORY...TO SOME WIVES...IS ÁS HARD WORK AC LATCHING OU TO A PORTER-HOUSE STEAK FOR EIGHT CENTS A POUND...
IWE DONT KNOW THICK IS THE HARDEST WORK TRYING TO FIND A HOME FOR A CAT OR TRYING TO KEEP FROM |ACCEPTING ONE.
TRYING TO FIND A DISPLAY-SPOT FOR A STUFFED FISH IS REALLY HARD WORK IN SOME HOUSEHOLDS.
FRED. IT'S @TIREE
PO'CLOCKI
GETTING THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE TO DO A JOB OF WORK IS ALMOST MORE LABOR. THAN DOING IT YOURSELF....
Ledger Syndicate
#LOOK! THE
BOSS TOLD
ME TO TAKE
HER TO
LUNCH -
WHAT ELSE
COULD
"CURE WE HADA
COCKTAIL
"WELL,
•GUESS SHE
WAS PRETTY!"
"NO!"
"DON'T
REMEMBER!
TRYING TO PUT THE BITE ON THE BOCC FOR A TWO-BUCK RAISE IS HARDER WORK THAN THE WORK YOU GET PAID FOR.... (OR HAVE TIMES CHANGED?)
YOU HAVE TO WORK LIKE A FARM-HORSE TO GET HUL TO GO TO THE PARTY... AND IT'S ANOTHER WIGHTS WORK TO GET HIM TO COME HOME: HE'LL HOST
LIKELY ANE TO BE DRAGGED OUT.
IT'LL TAKE YOU A WEEK TO WORK YOUR WAY OUT OF COMETHING LIKE THIS,