HOW TO MAKE THE IDLE WORK

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1947, Page 5

HOW TO MAKE THE IDLE WORK

Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, August 12. Tliat auonymous type of person who has bcou 'in the British news recently — the spiv — has become an imporiani political figure. At a time when repeated appeals . are being made to the public for harder work to close the export gap, the faet that there are some people living by their wits and .making no contribuuon to the national income, causes a good deal oi discontent. Many workers in mills and factories disiike the idea of having to work harder and carry 011 their baeks a number of idlers who spend their time making nioney dislionestly or merely idling tiieir time avvay. Tliis antagouism, bree'ding frus Lration, lies behind the decree oi Lab our Party Ministers that somethmg must ue done about the spivs or, as the} are alternatively cailed, "drones. " One suggestion about this alteruative is lliat spiv is a word that should be applied to men and droire to women. Just how the Goverument is going to track tliem dowu and get thein to work. however, is regarded as a diffkuit job. I.F was estimated recently that Brilam Has nearly one million 'inen of working age vvlio are dojug no kind of work. a projjortion of these, it is stated, however, are retired, others incapicitated in some way or others again living on legitimate unearned income. When the ligure is pruned down it is estimated that there are about 100,000 genume spivs in Britain. How they are to be roped in l'or work without some form of complete industrial registration, is a matter of guesswork. Even when the\ are traclceu dowu it is said that some would be totally unsuited for any kina of work — either mentally or physieally. Oue suggestion from Birmingh-am is that until the people can show proof of legitimate employment, they should be deuied ratiou books. The idea has be'eu seiit on to Mr. Attlee. Other action has been taken here and there. For instance, the police visited the members cnclosure at Old Trafford while Lancusliire were playing Bouth Africa. At least 50 people who were without 1116111 bership cards or who were unabie t(; explain their presence satisfactorily, were asked to leave.