MINISTRY OF PRODUCTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 13 February 1942, Page 5

MINISTRY OF PRODUCTION

BRITISH PRESS COMMENT IMPROVEMENT ON EXISTING MACHINERY Rugby, Feb. 11. i That the Prime Minister’s explanaj tion of the new scheme for the Ministrj' | of Production represents a distinct ad- | vance on the existing machinery is the j general comment in the Press, though , there i.s a tendency to reserv e final I judgment till Lord Beaverbrook is able j to get into his stride, i The "Daily Telegraph" says its j duties are primarily co-ordinary rather j than executive and the object is to pro. I vide a solution for problems arising out I of the pooling of British and American I war resources. Mr Churchill epitomj ised the matter in a phrase when he said, "There must be someone able to speak to the United States representing I British war production as a whole.” i It seems to be a general comment that the allocation of manpower and labour being left with the Minister of Labour. Mr Bevin—though the other powers of the production executive have been transferred to Lord Beaverbrook —makes co-ordination less comprehensive than before, and the “News Chronicle” points out that great results not inherent in the machinery set up will depend on the personality and goodwill of those called upon to work a. Outstanding changes in a new essential works order for the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry will come into force on 25th February. These changes concern the scope and functions of the yard committees, which are composed of representatives of the managements and workers in the shipping yards, and the Minister of Labour’s intention is that they shall be bodies to assist him. The amendments made in the order, therefore, are directed toward giving the committees greater responsibility 1 and tuning up the administrative ma- | chine so as to accelerate the procedure whereby a national service officer is : empowered to issue directions under the defence regulations. The Director-General of Ordnance Factories, Sir Charles McLaren, has decided to establish in all ordnance 1 factories joint production consultative and advisory committees and is in i course of meeting the trade unions ■ with a view to agreement on the constitution of the committees.—B.O.W.