CIVIL SERVICE IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25088, 21 January 1947, Page 7

CIVIL SERVICE IN BRITAIN

SUGGESTION TO REDUCE NUMBERS (Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.A.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan, 20. Seven thousand members of Civil Service trades unions attended a meeting in the Central Hall, Westminster, and two adjoining halls, to consider Government suggestions that the number of civil servants in Britain should be reduced. Union spokesmen reported that heads of departments agreed that unless the Government reduced its nationalisation programme substantial cuts in the numbers of civil servants were impossible. So much work had already been done that it was claimed that it was already impossible to observe the agreed working hours of 44 in the provinces and 42 in London. Before the war the Government employed 384.000 civil servants. Now it employs 710.000, not including local authority employees.

Greeks Buying 100 Liberty Ships.— The Greek Minister of Merchant Marine (Mr Nichols Avram) has announced that arrangements have been completed between Greece and the United States for the transfer of 100 Liberty ships to Greek owners to replace war-time losses. Twenty are already on the way to Europe under the Greek flag with cargoes of coal and grain. The shipowners pay 25 per cent, of the price of each ship in cash to the United States. The balance is carried on mortgage guaranteed by the Greek Government.—New York, Janu--2a