PRODUCTION DRIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 162, 8 June 1940, Page 7

PRODUCTION DRIVE.

TRANSFER OF WORKERS. Received June S, 12 noon. LONDON, June 7. Further indications of the intensification of the production drive which is now dominating ail aspects of the homo front include the establishment of a new Government department under the Minister of Labour aiming at the maintenance of arms production at maximum speed. The department, which as yet is unnamed, will supervise the welfare of munition workers and other factory staffs in such matters as communal feeding and nurseries for' the children of working mothers. In the biggest amendment to the reserved occupations schedule thus far thousands of wood workers have been given the opportunity to transfer to the aircralt industry before August 1 or take a chance of- being conscripted. For the first time the voluntary distribution of labour to essential industries has been offered. About 30,000 black-coated workers aged 25 to 30 will be available for service from August 1 and over 100,000 distributive workers have been reserved for the first time. The Minister of Home Security (Sir John Anderson), in a broadcast call to national service, said: “The war is already at our doors, and tomorrow may be in our midst. The Government asks every trained person in the civil defence services to remain there, and appeals for more volunteers for these services/' Britain has agreed to purchase all Eirean exports of wool, the price being negotiated.