LABOUR SHORTAGE

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1947, Page 8

LABOUR SHORTAGE

-Press Asscciation

Foreign Workers To Assist Britain VALUE OF MIGRATION

By Telegraph-

Received Monday 7.45 p.m. • LONBON, Feb. 10. Tlie Times, in an- editorial, supports the Government's announced poliey of bringing into Britain as many disp'uced perso'ns and other foreign workers as possible. | "But," it says, "the test of the pol'icy will be its performanee. " The Times says: "A controlled influx of foreigners is to be we),* comed even eagerly. Without the aid of suitable immigrants -a serious deficieney of mobile adaptable workers cannot be avoided for many years. The PoJish Re settlernent Bill is the first praetieal though belated sign of a more liberal approach. "Objeetions to the importation of labour, though 1'eal enough, amouut to no more than an argu ment i'or great care in settlmg the tei-ms 011 which foreign workers are to be bro'ught in. The in clination of workers to exact Shorter liours ahd higher standards before tlie shortages oi i'uel and building efficieiicy can be overcome i'orms a vieious circle, and foreign workers can help to break this. "The requirement of foreign labour for the mines is the obvi ous starting point, and it has been unpardonably delayed. Agriculture also needs foreign labour li Poles cannot fill the gap the possibility of bringing in Baltic or other displaced persons or of inviting suitable German prisoners to remain as free'men must be considered. I11 'other trades such as textiles and brickworks the recruitment of foreigners must be pursued as quicldy as ci r cii 1 nst a 11c es permit . "There is now an opportunity of bringing over from Europe, principally from Germanv, a large number of orphaned or homeless children and juveniles who eould in a few years be trained for work and educated in the British way of ' liie. Child immigrants can readily be assirnilated into the liie of Ihe community. Much good vvould also come of a more genei.ous admittaii.ee of individual specialists, experts and seholars. Thei-e is a chance today, if the Gov( rnment will take it with skill and discretion, of enriching the life of the nation in a elouble sense."