DRASTIC POWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1940, Page 5

DRASTIC POWERS

CONTROL OF INDUSTRY IN BRITAIN NO STOPPAGES ON ACCOUNT OF DISPUTES. ANNOUNCEMENT BY LABOUR MINISTER. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 5. The Minister of Labour, Mr Bevin, announcing drastic regulations io control man-power in the coal-mining, agriculture, building and engineering industries, said on behalf of the Government that he could give absolute assurance that the regulations would be withdrawn, as soon as victory was assured.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 the employment exchange or an approved trade union and prevent the engagement in any other capacity of men normally employed in coal-mining, 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 Bevin, simultaneously announcing publicly that “in this period of national emergency it is imperative that there be no stoppage of work as the result of trade disputes.” The recommendations urge the continuance of the existing machinery to deal with wages and conditions, but if disputes cannot be settled in this way they shall be ref erred, 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.