LITTLE MEAT IN SHOPS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25081, 13 January 1947, Page 7

LITTLE MEAT IN SHOPS

“The lorry-drivers have achieved what the Luftwaffe and German Army and Navy failed to —prevent London ration-book holders from receiving their full allocation of meat,” states Reuters. “Some shops have received 30 per cent, of their meat ration, but these supplies are now exhausted. The Government has announced that the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force will be given detailed orders to provide whatever assistance is required to maintain the people’s food, supplies and other essential services. The announcement states that the decision was taken to prevent unnecessary inconvenience and hardship arising from the partial stoppage of work in road haulage. “The Smithfield market workers held a meeting immediately the Government’s decision was known, and unanimously decided to walk out as soon as the troops arrived, and asked all the workers’ organisations in industries affected by the use of troops to do The Minister of Food (Mr Strachey) announced that military labour will operate on Monday. “Continuance of the strike into next week would prevent Londoners receiving many of their . essential food supplies,” he said. “In the circumstances, it is the Govem-

ment’s duty to take emergency measures for the distribution of foodstuffs. “This will be done/’ added Mr Strachey, “but I emphasise that in performing this duty the Ministry of Food is not intervening in this industrial dispute, or implying any opinion on the men’s claims.” Drivers held meetings in all the areas affected by the strike to consider the statement by the Minister of Labour (Mr G. A. Isaacs) telling them to return to work. A member of the Road Haulage Association told a correspondent that many of the men on strike did not realise the position under the wages legislation. Overtime, he said, was payable after 10 hours’ work. Men did not have to work 48 hours before overtime was payable, and in addition, they had a guaranteed wage based on 48 hours even if they did not work the full time. The “Daily Herald,” the Labour newspaper, supports Mr Isaacs “without hesitation,” and states that the men were wrong to strike. It adds that some workers are asserting their right to disorganise—to harm the authority of their unions by unconstitutional action, to rebel against the negotiating system, and embarrass their own Government. “No good can come of these tactics,” it states, “in the long run or the short run. We urge the strikers to think again."