Frederick Fox, item 84

Edit transcription:

...

Transcription saved

Enhance your transcribing experience by using full-screen mode

Transcription

You have to be logged in to transcribe. Please login or register and click the pencil-button again

This is now recognized by the government and I believe will before very long be regulated. They

started with the Moratorium, then they gradually by means of the Note issue withdrew the gold

from circulation. They next prevented certain articles and Commodities required for Home use and

for our Allies being exported. Then they fixed the selling price of Coal. They are controlling and

regulating the drink traffic. Their latest effort is to prevent houses up to 21/0/0 a year in the

country and 30/0/0 a year in London being advanced in rent. They have also prevented the

Mortgagers raising the Rate of Interest on this class of property. They are preventing Municipalities
and Corporations borrowing money for developments and extension except on Public Health

accounts. Already a great number of Contracts have been stopped in Bradford. They have doubled

the income tax they are taking 50% of all Extra Profits made during the war and I believe that if the war

lasts any considerable time they will either by forced loans or taxes levy a further evil ["evil" not in original document] toll on all classes

and even on wages of the high paid will not escape attention.

Turning from what I might term the legislative side of the governments activities to their attitude in

regard to Industry, one finds they have been no less active in this. Their first act was to take over the

entire Railway system followed at once by commandeering a very large portion of the mercantile

marine The fishing Industry did not escape notice I believe 2000 Trawler have been taken over for

mine sweeping & similar duties. Practically the whole of the engineering Works are under

Government control with a resident Inspector who tells you whose orders you can execute and

whose you cannot. The Steelworks are the same you can scarcely buy posts angles + sections for

private work In a great number of cases The stores of Merchants have been taken over + where this

has not been done a monthly report has to be made shewing what stocks are held.

It would surprise you who think probably that the US. is doing all if you knew what we where

doing here + I think it would interest you if you knew but I cannot go into details fully owing to the

fact that it is not wise and 2ndly has (sic) you have stated the Allies are sometimes opened Still rest

assured that even if all the USA meets the fate of the machine Shop of of The Bethleham Steel

Corporation this country will be able to provide all its own wants + probably

maturally arrest its allies. England weakness is not that she cannot provide for a Situation like

this with her own resources but rather due to the fact that years of peace (Comparative) and

prosperity has made the whole Nation sluggish + slothfull every year has made us more apathetic

in regard to things which our fathers + grandfathers considered essentials to our national life and

the whole country speaking collectively was all for itself + the devil take the hindemost its motto.

This has I stated is changing + changing rapidly and whatever the Result of this wall (sic) There

is no doubt that it will be quite a different England in the future.

I could go on much longer but I have alredy spent more time + said more than I intended when I

began so will conclude with Best wishes for the Coming New Year + something in reserve for the future

Yours Truly,

Frederick Fox