MANPOWER DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1941, Page 6

MANPOWER DEBATE

MR BEVIN DEFENDS HIS POLICY TRANSFER OF WOMEN TO INDUSTRY NOW EXTENDING APACE. BLOCK RESERVATIONS OF MEN TO GO. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, October 8. The Minister of Labour (Mr Bevin) replying in the House of Commons in the debate on manpower, stated that since he became Minister of Labour the amount of time lost as a result of trade disputes had been equal to only the loss of one day per man in fifteen years. Replying to criticism which had been voiced during the debate concerning the slowness of the calling up of women, Mr Bevin pointed out that no country, not even Germany, had tried what was virtually compulsion of women as it had been tried in Britain. Germany had made a slight attempt at it but these attempts had failed because the usual ruthless German methods were adopted. At present entry into industry as a result of a gradual speed-up of registration had grown until 40.000 to 50,000 women were being interviewed monthly. Speaking of reservations, Mr Bevin said he had come to the conclusion that block reservations would have to go, and that individual reservations would have to take their place. With regard to the employment of aliens, Mr Bevin said he had established an international labour force. He had given them k an international labour badge and thousands of refugees and aliens had been taken into industry.