Bevin Hits Out At Critics Of Labour Plan

Northern Advocate, 3 April 1941, Page 5

Bevin Hits Out At Critics Of Labour Plan

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 2. There was a hard-hitting debate in the House of Commons upon the organisation of industry in which members attacked the Minister for Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin) for not using his powers. The debate culminated in Mr Bevin declaring that he refused to create a nation of industrial slaves, but had done an immense amount, despite the industrial chaos for which he was not to blame. Some 49,000 men, driven out of shipbuilding in the past 15 years, found jobs after three or four yeai's’ unemployment. “Now we are taking them from these jobs in order to send them back to the shipyards,” he said.

Lack of Dock Space

“Some are getting £5 a week less than in their previous jobs, but they have not received a word of praise. The House of Commons allowed shipyard after shipyard to close. The hindrance today in fighting the battle of the Atlantic is not men. but lack of dock space for repairing ships. “When you ask me to make good within nine months, I say it cannot be done. The Minister for Labour provides only labour personnel. This passes from his hands when it goes into the' factories.

Management Factor,

“You cannot hold me responsible for what is wrong with the management. Labour is not the only factor. Industry is chaotic and when I am told to get the proper use of labour I must have proper conditions under which labour can be used. “Workers who, in response to an appeal, have left their jobs and have gone to others, have been sacked. There seems to have been an assumption after the House made industrial orders that my function was to make national industrial slaves and not get willing service. I decided to interpret the orders reasonably. Amazing Accomplishments.

“If I could tell the story of what has been accomplished it would stagger the country. The basic condition on which an industrial system is run has been starvation, and a power to make men unemployed. That method has failed.

“There has been tremendous difficulty over machine-tools, especially for aircraft factories, because of sinkings and other causes. Housing and transport are also difficult. Factories were built but someone forgot the houses for the workers."