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BRITAII–
atthe brink
aaain
Britain has more than once
stood on the brink of collapse
- and survived agains t great
odds. Pessimism that future
crises may push the nation
beyond the point of no return
is rife.
by
Tony Morrell
London
T
HE ARCHBISHOP'S
voice crack–
led through the silence of the
freezing February night. A
grave nation huddled around its ra–
dio sets.
It was 1947. The Archbishop of
Canterbury had come on the air to
anoounce to the people that he may
have found the answer to the big–
gest industrial and fuel crisis to be–
set the country up to that time.
"The answer is that we must
pray," he solemnly declared, "and
I
have created wbat 1 calla prayer for
survival."
Throughout the length .and
breadth of the British lsles, families
listened in silence; heads bowed.
The Primate continued, " ... have
regard we pray Thee. to this nation,
oppressed at this time by many bur–
deos."
The Bleakest Winter
The broadcast ended. Up and
down the country Lights ftickered
GRAVESEND COKE--COMBERS - Forty
people at a time were allowed, in late
1940's, to search Clinker Heap at
Gravesend Gasworks, Kent, England,
to fi nd coke. They were permitted to
take away 56 lbs. per person for one
shilling. Today, a quarter century later,
Britons are agoin facing o mojor fuel
crisis.
PLAIN TRUTH April 1974
out. The nation awaited the dawn–
ing of a new day.
Tbe crisis had begun with a strike
by transport workers. The snowball–
ing chaos was to prove almost un–
stoppable.
"Conserve fue! or sink!" pleaded
the government. They were serious.
There simply were no reserves in
1947!
So the British people clustered
around their tiny fires and, with a
resolve bom of the hardships and
privations of war, determined not to
give up.
In
the meantime, the chaos con–
tinued. Striking railwaymen and
dockers immobi lized the country.
Lancashire cotton milis closed as
power dwindled to a trickle. South
Wales steelworks shut down. Austin
Motors instituted an unprecedented
one-day working week. London–
based industry had its supplies cut
off altogether.
Unbelievable Hardship
As
the number of unemployed
people mounted to the sad figure of
four million, the weather added to
the misery.
It
snowed and froze and
snowed and froze again. And the
British people suffered.
Reported one newspaper: "After
a couple of weeks of wondering how
Albert Green was getting on in his
farm at T intown, Kent, a search
party finally broke through the
snow and found him in his kitchen.
On the tire was his wife's last pair of
shoes. He had burned all rus furni–
ture and a spare bed. Around him
by the tire were Doody, the dog,
Timmy the cat,
15
chickens,
8
ducks
and a nanny goat."
Many similar incidents crowded
the newspapers. StiJJ, despite na–
tional and personal adversity ,
overwhelming odds and being hope–
lessly short of everything, the British
people carne through triumphantly.
Can Britain Still
Cope?
This year, Britain is again reeling
from an industrial and fuel crisis.
The British people have once more
been asked to sacrifice for their na–
tion. But the response may prove
very different from that of 1947.
Does today's Britain have the spirit
of the 1940's? A generation accus–
tomed to relative affiuence has
grown up untempered by hardship.
Can it overcome the temptat.ions
and problems which currently beset
the national character?
Industry was restrícted earlier this
year. Hundreds of thousands have
been out of work. Altogetber, about
15 million workers were hit by the
restricted work-week, with a loss of
earnings of up to
40
percent.
Breadwinners a ll over tbe country
encountered impossible situations.
For those heavily committed tinan–
cially, mortgages and hire purchase
(credit) agreements became major
worries almost overnight. With tbe
sudden fall in income, many suf–
fered a parallel decline in living
standards.
lnto the Future
The long-term e.ffects on the econ–
omy can only be guessed at. The
impact on the individual is more
easily identified. Diet, spending
habits, and the very life-styles of the
average Briton have all changed.
Many worry that the changes wiU be
permanent.
People all over Britain and in Eu–
rope are increasingly concerned
about the security of their futures:
How stable are their jobs? How well
can they expect to provide for their
families?
The present situation has caused
an awareness that the sophisticated
vencer of twentieth century living
canriot hide.
Britain has been on the brink of
disaster before. In 1947 she sur–
vived - against a ll odds. With Eu–
rope an anxjous spectator, Britain
wíll probably struggle through the
present crisis. But many privately
fear that further crises may push
the nation beyond the point of no
return - unless a total change in
national character and a renewed
dedication to self-sacrifice
oc–
cur.
o
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