MUNITIONS DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 27 May 1940, Page 12

MUNITIONS DRIVE

“NO IDLE MOVEMENTS” GREAT SPEED-UP STARTS HUGE BILLETING PLANS ARMAMENT CENTRES (]•'.).■<■, Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY. May 25. In a broadcast talk on Saturday evening, the Minister of Labour and National Service, Mr. Ernest Bevin, upon whose shoulders the recent legislation for more complete mobilisation of Britain's man and womanpower has cast a Navy burden and responsibilities, outlined he pos.tion to-day on the labour front. It v as a great satisfaction, said Mr. Bevan, to know that coincidentally with the registrations of the age 27 group, a great speed-up in produciion was taking place. “Machine toots and other instruments of production are mere valuable than gold at the present time,” he sa d. “We cannot afford that they shall be idle for one moment. Our effort will be to and check up, one against the other, to ensure that there shall be no idle material or idle moments.

“I shall be compelled to ask the local authorities to organise in the munition centres proper billeting arrangements so as to cause a minimum of inconvenience to householders. I also propose, with a view to facilitating the proper feeding of this great mass of men and women, particularly women whom I must bring into industry, to set up communal canteens. Grateful for Assistance “I am grateful to Lord Woolton for placing at my disposal his services and the services of the great Food Ministry to assist me in this task and whose officers will co-operate with the local committees. The committees will have the duty of organising facilities for naming. It is extremely vital that every form of training shall be bought into being. I shall take every posable step to secure measures to ensure that at the end of the war the conditions which arc now voluntarily being given up by the workers shall be restored.” In order to give effect to the powers vested in the Minister of Labour and National Service under the Emergency Powers Defence Act and to insure the fullest use of man-power and woman-power in Britain, the Minister of Labour has established under his own chairmanship a Labour Supply Board. The powers vested in the Minister under this Act include the control and use of ail labour. The Minister has power to direct any person in the United Kingdom to perform any duties which may be considered by him to be necessary. Firms will be inspected to ensure tiiat skilled labour is used to the best advantage and that all the necessary training facilities are provided.