DEMOBILISATION

Grey River Argus, 15 September 1945, Page 6

DEMOBILISATION

Problem in Britain

T.U.C. PRESIDENT’S WARNING

Mr. Ebby Edwards in his p’residentia address at the opening of the Trades Union Congress at Blackpool said: “There is irrefutable evidence from all quarters that men are at present being held in the armed forces in the Near East, and United Kingdom, who are seriously underemployed. If the Government holds men in the national forces without employment, then there will be a very grave danger of a repetition of the incidents that marked demobilisation at the end of the last war. There must be a still further acceleration of demobilisation. Manpower was the key to the reconstruction problems and the Government must handle boldly and firmly the difficulty arising from the unwillingness .s-f large numbers of men and women to return to pre-war employment because conditions were in strong contrast to those they had enjoyed in war trades.’’ Mr. Edwards expressed the opinion that an essential improvement would have to be. made in th, wage standard and conditions of employment in many industries to attract back the transferred workers and he suggested that such improvements should be a condition of Government assistance to industries. ,He welcomed the lead which Sir Stafford Cripps had given the cotton and textile industry bv insisting that there must be a full consultation on reconstruction between employers and unions. He emphasised that co-operation between trade unions and employers’ organisations was essential. The unions, too, will have’ to overhaul and modernise organisations and abandon restrictive practices which impede the maximum production and full efficiency in industry. Mr. Edwards described the proposed nationalisation of mines as a test of socialism. “Operating the structure of a nationalised coal mining industry involves an experiment of vital Socialist principles which must or necessity stand the test of industrial efficiency and national welfare. It must have repercussions on the future organisation and operation of other industries. The nationalisation of any industry, must increase very seriously the responsibilities of the trade unions concerned.” A warning that the Government must be ever on the alert to anticipate progressive changes in industrial power was given. The existing essentials nowsecured by the use of large capital and great toil might be replaced by other means in order to secure an abundance with economy. Discussing the effect of the discovery of the atomic bomb on international relationships, Mr. Edwards said the whole problem of military security alliances and grouping between nations was affected from every angle by the discovery. Problems of peace and security would have to be worked out anew. A full knowledge of this instrument of war in the possession of any nation which has the means to manufacture it. changes the principal balance of power. How 'futile and illusory m the face of this is our old foreign policy. The Congress must consider what guidance it can offer to the Trade Union .movement on the probMr. Edwards declared that, the war bad not ended the national imperialist ambitions and the unitv of workers in thought and action must be maintained. He protested thM. the Trade Union movement was not represented on UNRRA. “Congress must demand status in this work v’-hich cannot be left to paid agents of Governments often lacking in working class conceptions.