MUNITIONS DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 7

MUNITIONS DRIVE

MAGNIFICENT EFFORT. CONTINUOUS WORK. PROMPT RESPONSE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received June 7, 9.35 a.m. RUGBY, June 6. Evidence is to be found throughout Britain of the speedup in the production of munitions with ever-increasing momentum. Labour circles say the answer has already been given to the appeal by Lord Beaverbrook (Minister of Aircraft Production) by the willingness of the Avorkers to make every conceivable effort to increase production.

Journalists visiting a tank factoryin the' Midlands record lioav the workers have engaged with new energy in the production drive to overcome t-he loss of war machines in Flanders, Every worker over 16 is doing twelve hours a day for seven days a iveek. This particular factory lias increased its output by 20 per cent., and aims to double production. The Labour Minister’s sweeping scheme to mobilise labour is welcomed. Mr Bevin noiv proposes that all vital industries Avork seven days a Aveek, each worker getting one day’s weekly rest under a rota system. The transfer of skilled men from less essential work to war production is in full SAving- Mr Bevin, also proposes to recruit additional farm Avorkers and to ask them all to Avork seven days a week. Mr Bevin said: One thing AA’e are producing—we are producing order out of chaos, and chaos it was when we went in. He added that- production in some places had recently increased 100 per cent. RESERVED OCCUPATIONS. A request to the Minister of Labour in a Parliamentary question to revise the schedule of reserved occupations so that men kept out of the Army may no longer be employed on work which is not of sufficient national importance gave an opportunity for the .Parliamentary Secretary to 'recall the purpose and meaning of reservation and to state that the schedule is constantly under review and revised AA'henever necessary to meet the changing requirements. LUXURIES RESTRICTED. The Board of Trade has made an order restricting supplies to retailers by manufacturers and Avholesalers of a Avide range of goods of common use, but non-essentials. The restriction will operate over the next six months and will be on the basis oi one-third of the value supplied in the corresponding period' of 1939. Tlie main purpose is to liberate labour, material', and productive capacity for essential war purposes and exports. No foodstuffs are affected by the order, but many household goods, sports, and fancy goods, and many kinds of AA r earing apparel arc among . the products affected. The restriction imposed from April until September reducing supplies of cotton piecegoods and made-up goods to the home market by one quartet will be amended after September to reduce supplies for the home market bv three-quarters. LABOUR RELEASED.

Another order prohibits, except under license, the supply of certain types'of machinery otherwise than for Government departments or export. The labour released by the operation of this order will be (.« the type urgently needed for munition production, while there will also result an important economy in steel and other metals. Finally, the system of import restriction is to be made comprehensive. Under the new order all goods except certain live animals will be brought within the import licensing . system. ’ INDUSTRIAL CONTROL. REGULATIONS IN BRITAIN. LONDON, June 5. The Minister of Labour (Mr E. Bevin), announcing drastic regulations to control man-power in the coalmining, agriculture, building and ■ engineering industries, said on behalf of the Government that he could give an absolute assurance that the regulations would be withdrawn as soon as victory was assured. The regulations, which become operative on June 10, prohibit employers engaging men except through an employment exchange or an approved trade union and prevent the engagement in any other capacity of men , normally employed in coalmining, agriculture, forestry, or horticulture. With the object of preventing trade disputes developing into strikes or lock-outs, the consultative committee of the British Employers’ Confederation and the Trade Union Congress submitted a number of recommendations to Mr Bovin, simultaneously announcing publicly t-hat “in this period lof national emergency it is imperative that there be no stoppage of work as the result of tryde disputes.” The recommendations urge the continuance of the existing machinery to deal with w r ages and conditions, but if disputes cannot be settled in this way they shall be referred to arbitration and the decision shall be binding on all parties without strikes or lockouts. Cases where there is no provision for arbitration shall be submitted to the Minister, who shall fix a time-limit and refer them to the national, arbitration tribunal.