ORDER IN FORCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26640, 10 December 1947, Page 5

ORDER IN FORCE

CONTROL OF EMPLOYMENT BRITAIN’S PRODUCTION DRIVE N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 9. The much-discussed Registration of Employment Order, the primary purpose of which is to draw all nonproductive workers into essential industry, came into force yesterday. It is now illegal for any man aged less than 51 or for any woman aged less than 41 to live in Britain unless he or she can satisfy the Ministry of Labour that they are engaged in some gainful occupation. The order applies not only to “ workers ” in dubious amusement arcades in the East End and street barrow boys, but also to young society men and women living on dividends without working. These last, according to colloquial definition, are described as “ drones ” and the former as “spivs.” The Ministry of Labour admits that it is encountering considerable difficulty in defining “ gainful employment ” but intends to make a start early in January by ordering all street traders to register. Later in the same month all persons without settled occupation between the ages of 18 and 25 will be called upon to register and thereafter the remainder will be called up according to age groups as was done for military service during the war.

Any young men in the 18 to 25 group who are found to have escaped military service will immediately be drafted into the services if found medically fit. If these are not fit, suitable work will be found for them.

The order confers exceptionally wide powers on the Minister of Labour. He can at any time call upon employers in any designated trade to submit the names of all their directors and employees. He has already been given a preliminary list of all football pools and betting and gambling organisations and is expected to name them as the first object of his attentions. Although the order has created serious misgivings because of its sweeping powers over individual liberty, says Mr Ness Edwards. Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, it has already justified it 3 introduction.

Speaking in North Monmouthshire during the week-end, Mr Edwards said the passing of the order had already brought many workers into industry. Many of those now coming forward, he said, were proving very co-operative..

On the other hand, according to newspaper reports, the determined work dodgers are already busily devising ways and means of evading the order. One method already employed is to form clubs and appoint paid secretaries who, because they have a settled occupation, cannot be directed. New clubs are stated to be springing up at an alarming rate in order to provide these positions.