Have Britons Been Asked To Do Too Much

Northern Advocate, 28 September 1943, Page 2

Have Britons Been Asked To Do Too Much

Britain is passing through a somewhat difficult stage domestically ai present. It is the outbreak of unauthorised strikes which is becoming sc persistent that it cannot airily be dismissed. In the period August 5 to September 18 there were 230 unofficial strikes involving the loss of 270,000 working cays and today comes the news that for 10 aays 9000 engineering workers in the arms firm of Vickers have been on strike over pay and it is stated that there is no glimmer of the strike breaking. In order that people abroad may maintain a proper perspective ot this position it should be borne in mind that last week’s House of Commons’ manpower debate showed that Britain had reached the limit of mobilisation for manpower and womanpower and that the degree of mobilis* ation exceeds that of any other country engaged in the war, whether ally or enemy. • What is the reason for the present phase is the question occupying many minds at present. It has been asked whether the Government is requiring more of the country than it is capable of doing for the overthrow of Nazism. Industrial Unrest “The Economist’’ seems to put its fingers on the spot when it states. “Frictions of the fifth year of war mirror the hard labour of the four that have gone. Workers, managers, employers ad administrators have undergone great physical and mental strain not comparable in any way to the suffering' c.l occupied Europe or warwracked Russia, though for a longer period, but sufficient to make understandable far more unrest than has ap peared. “The causes of most strikes headlined in recent days are local and personal. They concern the grievances of individuals or the exasperation of relatively small groups of workers. They are important because they may be symptomatic of greater unrest to come. They undoubtedly represent a serious warning, but should not be overestimated.” Referring to the position of coal, 1 shipbuilding and transport. “The ! Economist” adds that the increase in ■working days lost “it not yet evidence iof serious labour unreset. but of a 'widespread fraying of nerves and goodI will. Workers are vexed by wartime I condition? and troubles about theii prospects after the war; the absence |ox Government decisions on post-wav ! policy causes scepticism and alarm.’’ i There is increasingly a growing anc widespread demand for more definite I Government statements on post-wav I policy and a general hope that Mj | Churchill will soon be able to fine ■ time to turn attention to the honn ! front in addition to the world front.