ECONOMIC WEAPON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 7

ECONOMIC WEAPON

ADVANTAGE WITH. ALLIES. j ' T v — ' CONTROL OP PRODUCTION. GERMANS PORESTALLED. 'I A; ...... \ .' \ " (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received June 6, 10 a.m. Y. RUGBY,'June 5. Economic circles consider that large benefits will accrue to the Allies as a result of the co-ordina-tion of the products-of the British, Prench, Dutch, and Belgian colonial empires. The countries now ranged in the alliance against the Nazi aggression virtually control the world production of nickel, jute, ground nuts, rubber, tin, diamonds, palm oil, sisal, kapoc, tea and rnany tanning materials. They also have a large measure of control over mica, copra and wool. According to information from authoritative sources, no efforts were spared by the Allied authorities to ensure that the stocks in Belgium of important materials in which Germany is known, to be deficient did not fall into the invaders’ hands. What could not be carried off was destroyed.

Stocks of radium and cobalt from ithe Belgian Congo were saved from the Germans. Gold and foreign securities in public hands were mainly removed, but it is well-known that large amounts of specie and securities are held by private persons and the Germans will not scruple to dispossess the-owners of all they can. -The measures already taken will help to prevent the German Government from profiting from such robbery in the realisation of such assets, abroad, and controls designed to this end will be tightened. The largest single gain which the invaders obtained ov the violation of Dutch and Belgian neutrality is probably the iron and steel industries of Belgiuik. V BRITISH RESOURCES. In a manifesto issued to-day the General Council ol Scottish Trade Unions calls upon Scottish workers to give every support to the Government. The council welcomes the powers taken by the Government to mobilise the nation’s resources which, although drastic, are recognised as being necessary. The manifesto expresses the opinion that ' the traditions of the trade union movement will be respected, and concludes. “When peace is restored and reconstruction has to be resolutely faced, a strong trade union movement will be a decisive factor in maintaining the full, free democracy for which the people of Britain to-day are fighting.” The Lord Privy Seal (Mr C. R. Attlee) made a statement to the House of Commons on the Government’s proposals for the regulation of the engagement of workers. He said that under the powers conferred by the Defence Regulations the Minister of Labour had made an order affecting workers in the engineering, building, and civil engineering industries. < and male workers in agriculture and coal mining. The object was to prevent interference with production in these industries by an unnecessary movement of workers and to enable the labour resources to be directed to the point of the greatest and most urgent need.

As regards agriculture and coal mining, the object .was to retain the workers at present engaged and bring back those formerly employed when they fall out of employment elsewhere. The order would come into force on June 10.