PUTTING DRONES AND SPIVS TO USEFUL WORK

Chronicle (Levin), 10 December 1947, Page 5

PUTTING DRONES AND SPIVS TO USEFUL WORK

Received Tuesdav, 7.0 p.ui. LOXDOX, Dee. 9. . The mueh discussed Registration for Kinployment Ordcr, the priinavy piirpose of which is to drav all non-productive workers into essentlal industry, camt into force ycsterday. It is now illegai for any nian aged less than 51 or for any wornan aged less than 41, to live in Britain unless he or she rau satisfy j the Ministrv of Laliour they are engaged in sonie gaiuful occupation. The order applies not only to "workers' in dubious aiuusenient arcades in the Ea.st End and street barrow boys but also to yor.ng society men and women living on dividends without working. These last, according to the colloijuial deiiriition, are described as ' ' drones ' ' and the fornier as "'spivs". The Ministry of Labour admits it is encountering consideralile ditticulty in dcfining "gainful einploymeiit ' ' but intends to make a start oarly in .Januarv by ordcring all street traders to register. Eater in the sanie nionth all )>ersons without settled occupation between the ages of IN und 25, will be callvd upon to register and thereafter the reinainder will be called up according to age groups as wie done for military service during the war. Any yoinig men in tlie 18 to 25 group who are foiiiul to liave escaped military service, will innnediately be drafted into the services il found medically fit . If they are not flt suitable work will be found for them. The order confers exceptionally wide powers on the lMinister of Labour. Ile can at any tinie call upon em-ployers i;. any designated trade to submit the names of all their directors and eni ployees. Ile has already been given a prelimiuary iist of all footlm.il pools and betting and ganibllng organisa Lions and is expected to ntune them the first object of his attentions. Although the order 'has created seri ous misgivings owing to its sweeping powers over individual liherty, accord ing to Alr. Xess Edwards, Parliament ary Secretary to the .M inistry of Lab our, it has already justilied its intro duction. Speaking in Xorth Alon niouthshire during the weekend, Alr. Edwards said the passing of the order had already Inought niany workers into industry. Alanv of those now cotning forward, he said. were proviug niost co operative. On the other ha'nil, accord ing to nevvspaper reports, tlie determined work dodgers are already busily devising ways and nieans of evading the order. Oue niethod already eniployed is to form clubs and appoint paid secretaries who, becau.se they liave a settled occupation, can not be dirccled. Xew clubs are stated to lie springing up at an alarming rate in order to provide these positions.