Next time, Mrs. T. tells traders

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, was the way Finchley MP and Opposition Leader Mrs. Margaret Thatcher viewed her failure to defeat the Government last Wednesday.

Mrs. Thatcher was speaking at the annual dinner of the Finchley and Whetstone Chamber of Commerce in Alexandra Palace, on Thursday evening.

In proposing a toast to the chamber Mrs. Thatcher said: “I feel like starting off by saying that was the week that was.” She told members that she had seen a Press cutting that read “Mrs. T. for Palace” and began to wonder whether it had all been a dream.

Despite the set-back her party received in the House of Commons Mrs. Thatcher seemed confident of future success and said: “If you don't do it the first time you live to fight another day.”

She thought it “wonderful to be among friends” and said she was able to learn of the problems facing members. “I learnt something new tonight, that undertakers will accept credit cards—I just wonder how it works.”

She spoke of Tuesday's Budget and the number of technical financial terms it brings. “What is revolving credit—someone said when you use your Access Card to pay your Barclaycard.”

She said: “The Board of Trade statistics are up but the volume of sales is down. This is not surprising because everyone is having to economise where they can, we are in a survival situation.

“In 1975 we were told it was give a year to Britain. We gave one year, then another, now we're giving a third. What we really want is some hope at the end of it.”

When foreigners asked what had happened to Britain she told them all the ingenuity and resourcefulness had gone. Also “that those people who work hard don't get paid enough and those who don't work very hard get paid too much.”

She quoted an American economist who said: “If you pay the people to be lazy they will be, if you pay them to work they will work.” She thought it imperative that reward was not separated from effort.

“The Finchley and Whetstone Chamber of Commerce manages to carry on but it is not always easy.”

She told members that all public expenditure had to come from the citizen's pocket and that every pound spent by a Government had been earned by the citizen.

She hoped the Denis HealeyChancellor of the Exchequer would remember that “public expenditure comes, all of it, from the tax paying citizens.

“People will be prepared to put a lot in if they can take a reasonable amount out.”

And she thought competition would get more for the consumer than monopolies.

She thought it ridiculous that, 80 years after the Second World War, Britain should have a lower standard of living than other European countries.

The car industry was referred to by Mrs. Thatcher and the vast number of imported cars bought by people in this country. “They are both cheaper and better value for money than those we produce. They are not overmanning their machinery, so one person produces more, so we get the price less.”

She thought profit would turn if our trade unions would put their minds to it. “I learn from you exactly what is going on in Finchley and in Whetstone. I take that knowledge back to the House of Commons and put it to good use.”

Chamber chairman Mr. R. H. Jefferies thanked Mrs. Thatcher for attending the dinner. He said she was there “with a confident smile and a word here and there of practical advice. It is a presence that is uplifting and rewarding to those present.”

He spoke of the activities of the chamber over the past year and stressed the need for members to be informed of its work.

After commenting on the new Tescos development in Ballards Lane he thanked vice-president Cr. Frank Gibson for his advice throughout the year.

He also mentioned social committee chairman Mr. Solly Seaton and acting secretary Mrs. Jean Wedd, who was presented with a gift.

A toast to the ladies and visitors was proposed by Hendon Times editor and chamber member Mr. Dennis Signy. The response was made by the Mayor of Barnet, Cr. Andrew Pares, who was present with his wife, Joan, the mayoress.

His speech was followed by a presentation, on behalf of the chamber by Mr. D. Swaffield, of £50 to Finchley Old People's Welfare Committee.

The recipient was organiser Mrs. Ellen Freestone who said the money would be used to help pay for a holiday for the elderly.