WAR MATERIAL OUTPUT

Southland Times, Issue 24174, 10 July 1940, Page 8

WAR MATERIAL OUTPUT

Mobilization Of Man-Power MUTUAL TRUST IN INDUSTRY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, July 8. The greatest possible emphasis is being laid upon the need for increasing the output of war material and equipment. The Secretary for War (Mr R. A. Eden), the Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin), the Minister of Supply (Mr Herbert Morrison) and the other Ministers concerned are working in close collaboration to ensure that the demands of the Army should not reduce the labour force essential to the maintenance of the maximum output of the war industries. One of the first acts of Mr Churchill’s All Party Administration was the setting up of a Production Council under the chairmanship of one member of the War Cabinet, Mr Arthur Greenwood, to determine priorities. The council has worked out such priorities over the whole field of industry.

In the meantime, the Minister of Labour has been tackling the problem of skilled workers. The problem is more difficult today even than it was in 1915-16 because of the development of war mechanism and of the technological changes which have increased by 50 per cent, the importance of precision processes relative to the processes capable of routine repetition in mass. It is authoritatively stated, however, that considerable progress has been made in this problem.

The register of skilled categories will enable the transfer of skilled labour to war work with a minimum of delay. A census of machine tools has revealed the enormous unused capacity to which labour and material will now progressively be adjusted. The measure of the success achieved in the mobilizing of man-power, with the least possible dislocation, is afforded by the fact that in recent weeks it has been possible to place in industry—both from the ranks of the unemployed by training and from the unskilled labour force by up-grading—numbers of men greater than those taken for the Army at the present increased rate of intake. The Minister of Labour, it is understood, is satisfied that i* will be possible to continue to meet the Army needs without depleting the essential war industries. COMPLETION OF FACTORIES The building and civil engineering trades have been organized to such effect that there has been a great acceleration in the completion of war factories so that many may come into production four or five months ahead of schedule. Steps have been taken to facilitate the geographical transference of labour, while the transference from industries working for the home market or, in some cases, for export to war industries is being smoothed by the increase in the Ministry of Labour’s training facilities and in other ways. They have, in fact, been made possible by the relaxation on the part of the unions of nearly all “trade practices.” This attitude is illustrative of the spirit of mutual trust in industry to which both sides have contributed and which the Minister of Labour has sought to cultivate by seeing that the Government has made its contribution by giving close attention to the continuance of the reinforcement in forms adjusted to the sterner circumstances of services aiming at the welfare of workers and the maintenance of industrial efficiency. It can be stated that the Minister of Labour expects shortly to issue an order providing for the regulation of wages and for arbitration in all disputes. This step may be said to complete the mobilization of British industry for war. The fact that Mr Bevin has had the co-operation of the Trades Union Congress and the employers’ organizations in drafting these arrangements is the clearest possible demonstration of the determination of both employers and men, in the hour of the nation’s need, to give their very utmost in forging for the armies of the British Empire and its allies the weapons of victory. AIR FORCE OFFICERS DECORATED LONDON, July 8. Among the latest list of Royal Air Force officers who are receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross as a reward for their services are two New Zealanders, Flight Lieutenant Trent, of Nelson, and Pilot Officer Keen, of Green Island, Otago. Leading Aircraftsman Whitehead, from York (Ontario) is among 20 noncommissioned officers of the Royal Air Force who have received the Distinguished Flying Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty during recent operations.