THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 22, 1941. RAYMOND CLAPPER SAYS:-
THE V SPIRIT FILLS LABOUR RANKS IN BRITAIN
(By Raymond Clapper)
WHEREAS THERE IS much grumbling about in American defence work, I have not encountered any of it here in Scotland. Those industrialists with whom I have spoken say their men are working
Congressman John
Lawton In "The Ramparts We Watch," la portrayed by a lecturer and educator who had never faced a movie camera. Showing at the King's.
hard, and I find among the management a disposi- RECORD OF
tion to sympathise with the wartime burdens under which the men are labouring.
There is some apprehension
and it exists in
the government as well as in industry over cer- tain signs of a general drive for higher wages. It is feared that such a general rise would throw the de- licate price structure out of balance.
But that is a broad. generál pedals three or four miles to the question 10 the day-to-day, house where his family lives a close-up relationships there seems safe distance from the airfield. to be much less feeling than we
It is all that matter-of-fael, have in the United States as be- tween labour and management Public Solicitude Here there is more of the sense that bolha sides are
For Men pitching In
WODEHOUSE
TALKS
Liable After War
To Prosecution
P. G. Wodehouse, whose broadcast talks from Germany have been severely criticised, may have to face a prosecu- tion at the end of the war.
the Home Secretary in the House Sir John Mellor (Cons.) asked
of Commons what arrangement.. }}ud been made for recording evidence of broadcasts, under Evidently that makes for mure
are going in, because the whole enemy auspices, by British sub mutual tolerance. One indus-community recognises that while
jects with a view to their pro trialist told me the law prohibit others may have to go on short secution as soon as they could b› ing strikes has to be overlooked rations the men doing hard phy-brought to justice.
for a common purpose. the sense that both sides know full well
The men in the plants are do- that if the war effort fails every-ing their stuff, and others in the tung will be lost Here they are community feel a responsibility working under the gun, both the to look out for them. Every-
boss and the men know it
where canteens for hot lunches
in minor troubles that come up sical labour must have fuel in their Mr. Peake, Under-Secretary to
time to time. If from
half a dozen men become inflamed over
hodies. So the food restrictions are waived for real noonday
a grievance and walk out they meals. could theoretically be taken is But this in- hand by the law. dustrialist said such procedure would be foolish and only make matters worse.
demolished
When the homes of Clyde shipworkers were and the men moved their faml. lies 20 and 30 molles back into the country for Eafety, the Lord Provos of Glasgow saw
to it that cheap bus fares were established for the long rides to and from work.
the Home Office, soid that such broadcasts were recorded. The Home Secretary fully shared the view that all practicable steps should be taken in the collection of evidence which might be re- levant ttp prosecutions IPL the future against Any British sub- jects who assisted the enemy,
Bribery By Enemy
Col. Arthu Evans (Cons.) ask- ed if the Home Office would consider 'the advisability
He thought it was better to! allow the men to work off steam and take three or four days out. Then they come back to work in Even so, it is hard, and every- a much better frame of mind. thing drives ahead against time. They have all too few holidays The British Isles are enjoying a now, and a few days out gives lull, but everybody knows it can- them a break. That is the atti- not last. They all know that the broadcasting an appeal and a tude of one manager who thinks real test for
England is yet to warning-to British subjects re. Ernest Bevin made a mistake in come.
Bombs go out of the fac-sident in enemy countries against any practice that they might be trying to introduce reforms dur-tories with big V's chalked on
inclined to indulze in as a result ing the war instead of waiting them. In fuse factories every
of bribery held out by the enemy worker knows that a defective
so that their position would be fuse is a lost opportunity. Every tank, every un barrel counts and quite clear when they returned
to this country. every ship plate that goes on the
until afterward,
Proud
He does not like the guaranteed, frame. wage, or the fact that men can- not be discharged. He regards
V
the right to discharge as a neces- SUICIDE'S
sary weapon for discipline. But he recognises that this step was probably necessary compensation to the men for the essential-work order, which forbids them to strike.
In other plants managing directors pointed proudly to hun-
ness.
LAST LETTER
1 Mr. Peake: I will pass that
the suggestion to
Ministry of Information, who are concertteri with it.
Earl Winterton (Cons.): Can he make it clear by Order in Council that these people wit be liable to prosecution, whether they are famous writers or any- one elen?
Mr. Peake repeated that he thought the situaion was perfectly assisting the nemy by broadcasting in their to nrosecution I suffic'ent evidenco
dreds of busy workmen and re- Before he shot himself clear, that anyone marked about their industrious- with a revolver, Sergeant programmes was obviously liable Major Instructor James could be brought after the war. Here seems to be a part of Black, of Ardoyne, Bel-It was for the purnose of collect- the management's pride to have good labour relations, unions, fast, wrote this lettering evidence that these steps were
being taken.
are taken for granted. There 6ccma to be no disposition to among
others. It was
point to labour as a scapegoat addressed: To Whom It
when production is not what it May Concern.
should be. Even the difficulty in getting I obtained the 38 by a particu- coal miners to return to that larly rotten trick-my only rea} industry, while it is a serious regret - so attach no blame on handicap, is generally recognised the owner. I told him of 'a poor
the natural result of the little dog with rabies-what under-pay and the hard working mordant sense of humour I have. conditions in that industry. No I have acted fairly well. I flat- one very much blames the men ter myself that no one who has for drifting into the better-paid seen me to-day guessed I am to munitions works.
as
Men Eager To Help One managing director told me of an instance where workmen were begging to be transferred to direct munitions work. There is a strong sense that everyone here is in the same boat and that everyone must win the
war.
Those not working directly on war. materials are slightly un- comfortable. They want to have their hands on shell cases, fuscs. gun mounts, or something else that may be going into action as soon as it leaves the factory,
а
die to-night. I obtained the gun by a dirty trick, I admit. But put the blame on the system which makes able-bodied men have only jackknives as a weapon. All set, so good-night.
Black made gifts of come personal affects to an orderly, then his letter continued:
Stopped Watch
Whoever finds me may not re- member the exact time, and in giving a summary of the evidence necessary: I fear time is a vital factor. I have stopped my wrist- watch and am now 'ready. The matter of patriotism is The coroner at the inquest in o taken for granted. Nobody needs North Wales town cald the man's to say very much about It, A other letters displayed a wide young bomber pilot comes back knowledge of the classics. Sui- from a flight of eight hours that cide was the verdict, there being carried him over Germany, landa no evidence to show the state of his 'plane, gets on his bicycle and Black's mind,
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