Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 22 December 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

NATIONAL WAR SERVICE. . great government scheme. MOBILITY OF LABOR. —-■t A SCHEDULE OF INDUSTRIES. ! i IMPORTANT POWERS CONi ! FERRED. I '

Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, December 21. The Daily Chronicle, in outlining the scope of the National War Service Scheme, says it is of the boldest ana most far-reaching character. All men between the ages of 17 and 56 musu place themselves at the disposal of the State for the duration of the war, and consent to he transferred to occupations and localities where their service is most required. It is essential that the State must have the power to control and direct the mobility 61 labour. There is no guarantee at present that the man released from the Army for agricultural work will return to the land. The Government propose that full Trade Union wages will ho paid, to the war workers, m addition to the subsistence allowance of Ss 6d daily if the men are transferred, necessitating the maintaining ot two homes. A schedule of indisponsible and non-essential trades will be drawn up, and the non-essential industries will be shut down without compunction in order that tile engaged therein may be available for munitions and productive industries. The stimulation and mobility of labour is as important as the addition to tlie quantity of the output. It is estimated that forty per cent of waiworkors at any given time are idle owing to lack of mobility. One of Mr Neville Chamberlain’s chief functions will bo the transferring of batenes to places where the workers are urgently required, and he will have the power to billet the war-workers at private houses. Important trade union leaders shall be associated with Mr Chamberlain’s work. Following the analogy of the Derby recruiting scheme, a short time will be allowed for wm voluntary enrolment of war-worsers, and, if necessary, on the men not being forthcoming, the Government will appeal to Parliament for compulsory powers.

. r MINERS RELEASED FOR WORK. IRISH RAILWAYMEN’S WAGES INCREASED. Press Association. -Copyright, Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London,.,December 21. The Wail Office lias released twelve thousand miners who are unfit- tor general service, and they will be returned to the mines. The Government has granted the Irish railwayman 7s weekly as an increase in, their wages. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. OR DOMINIONS WAR BOARD. Press Association —Copyright, AustraHan ana iS.Z. Chino Association. London, December 20. It is understood that the Dominions will have the choice between a formal Imperial Conference and the establishment of a Dominions War Board in Loudon, with direct representation in the vVar Cabinet. Mr Walter Long (Cplonial' (Secretary), speaking at the annual meeting of tlie Empire Parliamentary Association, said he believed there was a unanimous desire on the part of the Home and overseas Governments to summon an Imperial Conference. The time .of holding it will largely depend upon the Dominions themselves. Their Governments were engaged in work as strenuously as the Imperial Government. The links binding Britain and the Empire were now strong chains as a result of their common difficulties and dangers. If all brought united courage, determination, and generous minds to the task, they would evolve the greatest and strongest and the most self-reliant Empire the world had seen.

The probability of au early Imperial Conference is the topic of discussion in. colonial circles.