BRITISH ARMAMENT PROGRAMME

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22370, 6 April 1938, Page 9

BRITISH ARMAMENT PROGRAMME

STRAIN ON CAPACITY OF .INDUSTRY MINISTER’S APPEAL TO TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS (BRITISH OFFICIAL RUGBY, April 4. Speaking at a meeting of the executive council of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Sir Thomas Inskip (Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence) said that the accelerated armament programme would place a new strain on the capacity of plant and labour in the industry, and suggested that representatives of the employers and workers should meet to discuss how to meet the needs of the situation. «

Sir Thomas Inskip to-morrow will meet the management board of the Engineering and Allied Employers’ National Federation and will emphasise the need for the assistance of employers to carry through the programme. It is expected that after to-morrow’s meeting a conference between employers and trade unions will be held. A Press Association message says Sir Thomas Inskip heard some plain speaking from leaders of the engineers, who raised the question of the profits of the armament firms. They said union members disliked the Government’s foreign policy. Mr J. C. Little, president, asked if the arms were to be used to defend collective security. Mr Fred Smith, secretary, asked what sacrifices tile employers were prepared to make. The leaders after the meeting said they had received no reply.