BRITISH AID TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 6

BRITISH AID TO RUSSIA

CALL FOR GREATER PRODUCTION SUSTAINED EFFORT IN INDUSTRY (8.0. W.) RUGBY. September 26. The Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr Ernest Kevin), sneaking at a luncheon given by the Institution of Production Engineers said; "In the last 16 months the effort in this country has been amazing, i is impossible to reveal all that has been accomplished, but a nation determined would have been defeated In the battle of Britain, m the battle of the Atlantic, and in the Middle East, the ingenuity, resourcefulness and energy of our people deserve the high est praise. I believe , these qualities have won the admiration and respect of the world, and they have made the greatest possible contribution to tne winning every day of more and more friends of freedom. “They recognise that a nation whicn is willing to speed itself to work as our people have worked, both management and men, and organise as we have organised, with all the terrific handicap against us. must win. They respect a nation that whole-heartedly believes in the cause for which it is fiS “Yoif’ will appreciate,” Mr Bevin added, “the obligations that are now imposed upon us. Russia has made a brilliant and resolute resistance, but much of her production capacity has been knocked out and her transport impeded. We must make sacrifices. I am convinced that there is a great untapped reserve of materials and productive energy and drive in this country that must now be called out. It is like bringing up your reserves, and this drive must be directed to a great objective. We must sustain at least a six to 12 months’ drive so as to- enable us, during that period, to assist Russia.” Use of Maximum Labour Mr Bevin added that he would like to have seen more attention paid by production and engineering organisations to the working out and application of maximum labour. “In my view, sufficient attention has not been paid to the subject, neither has there been due consideration of the fact that the workers have had to carry on through two ‘black-out’ winters with long hours of intense production. What has been proved, however, is that serious difficulties have been caused in the world of production during this last year by irregular hours, some of them necessarily due to the circumstances of the moment, but others enforced and operated without regard to the most precious and valuable of all machines—the human machine. It seems to me (hat in war this question of maximum hours is not so much one of bargaining, but one demanding a scientific approach. “The absence of a proper understanding of personnel problems has been one of the greatest handicaps in the present struggle,” Mr Bevin declared. and ho pleaded for recognition of a personnel manager who was equal in industry with other executive heads. Sustained Effort Needed On the question of sustained effort, Mr Bevin said: “It is well to remember in this mechanised war that our factories and productive capacity are pitted against not merely those of Germany. but also the countries which the Nazis have overrun. We have a small population, our raw t materials have to be brought from overseas, and the enemy has had many years’ start. It is clear now that long before Hitler came into power regard was being paid in Germany to the possibility of factories being switched over to war production quickly. "On the other hand, we were merely going along with commercial business until the war broke out. and not taking seriously into account the demands that would inevitably fall upon us There was a very great delay in the swing over from peace-time to wartime production. “Therefore, if this deficiency on our side is to be made good and parity reached, a spasmodic effort is not enough. It may serve as a momentary stimulus, but its effect is not usually lasting. Factors that will count are timing the flow of materials and corhponenfs, and the sustaining of the effort over a long period with a continuously increasing rhythm. Nothing. I suggest, is so irritating to work people as to be screwed up to a great pitch and then have a period of reaction and slack work and idling.” Mr Bevin emphasised the need for everyone responsible for production to turn his attention to getting the greatest possible use out of the total available skill. “I would emphasise again that it is not only fighting men that have to be provided, but servicing and transport, and with the speed of the modern army this is intensified,” he concluded.