AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Enlistment or Employment ?

17th September 1914
Page 9
Page 10
Page 9, 17th September 1914 — Enlistment or Employment ?
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Perhaps Mr. Churchill made no more remarkable -hit in his clever speech at the London Opera House

• last Friday than when he drew the simile of the ability of the bulldog, "owing to one of those wise provisions of nature which makes so palpable an • appeal to the German Emperor,' to maintain his hotd with his jaws while he continues to breathe quite comfortably through his set-back nostrils.

• Commercial-vehicle Works Must be Kept Going. Quite in keeping with the spirit of the times is this reminder of the ability of the great naval forces of this country to facilitate the keeping of the wheels of industry turning. This dual possibility of our fighting the battles of the Empire whilst still waging commercial warfare, restricted in some senses but more intense in others, raises a problem as to the relative importance of prompt enlistment and of maintained employment.

We ourselves, of course, are engaged in an industry which, in spite of satisfactory exploitation during the past few years, has never known such demands as those which are increasingly being made upon it, and, therefore, its problem is a simpler one in respect of the considerations we have just mentioned. It is not desirable that the commercial-vehicle industry should, at the present time, be deprived of the services of those who, through long training and experience, can now continue well to serve the

country's interests by keeping the commercialvehicle wheels turning, and, moreover, by providing new ones for someone else to turn. Nevertheless, the transport branches of the Empire's forces need the skilled assistance of a number of those who in civilian life are familiar with motor-vehicle transport of all kinds, and should those who, thus trained, decide for themselves that they should choose enlistment before civilian employment, we offer to them a word of congratulation. But no less do we find cause for satisfaction in the attitude of those who have honestly faced the situation, and have decided that, until the national call is more imminent, they will best be occupied by minding the business which has been theirs in periods previous to the present strife.

Our Employment Bureau to be Maintained.

As a journal, we have endeavoured to assist those who have made either decision. Our Employment Bureau has done excellent work by maintaining so far as possible the balance as between the supply of and demand for labour of all kinds during the initial periods of upheaval consequent upon the rush to the Colours. This organization remains in existence, and we continue to hold onrselves at the disposal of those who, for sufficient reasons, are out of employment, and who can show us that they have qualifications and experience that ar6suitable to the demand that now exists in the industry. We have already announced or intention of giving preferential help to married men, and of refusing assistance to those who are in employment. We will, however, not allow ourselves to be ranked with those who think it to be in the country's interest to dismiss their single employees in a foolish attempt thus to bring about their voluntary (sic) enlistment. This is moral suasion of the wrong kind, and is a very different thing from a desire to assist preferentially those who, also out of work, from force of circumstances are not able to take their place in the ranks or to apply for a commission. We repeat that our Employment Bureau is open ; it will remain open so long as the need for it is shown to exist. Those who wish to take advantage of it must send a stamped envelope for our registration form.

Large Numbers of Men Offer Their Services.

Now, with regard to enlistment on the part of those who have some mechanical training, and who desire if possible to use this to advantage in His Majesty's forces, at the time of going to press, after a tour of the various headquarters' recruiting offices, we find that. there is considerable congestion in all of them, and that very large numbers of offers have been made by mechanics and drivers. It is no secret, however, that a considerable proportion of the offers has been refused on account of unsuitability, lack of real training, and, to a smaller extent, physical unfitness.

Where to Enlist.

It is impossible, writing two or three days before publication, to say that when this meets the eye of the reader there will be a fresh demand for mechanics and drivers, or whether the congestion will still remain.

We must leave it that those who desire to offer themselves must apply as directed. Application can be made, of course, to any recruiting office for information as to where the nearest depot is for the concentration of mechanics and driver recruits. The headquarters for the A.S.C. Mechanical Transport in this respect is in charge of Captain J. P. Walsh, Recruiting Officer, M. T. Expeditionary Force, A.S.C., Aldershot. In London, applicants should apply at Craig's Court, back of Old Scotland Yard, where Captain Holbrook is in charge. With regard to the Territorials, the first London Division Depot of the A.S.C. is at Charles Street, Plumstead. Captain Hughes is in charge there, and the telephone number of the offices is 117 Woolwich. Only men who have been used to driving heavy lorries, and are capable of doing roadside repairs, are required for such enlistment. They will have to undergo a medical examination, and to pass a 5 ft. 3i in. height test, and a chest measurement of 34 ins. ; they must torn the scale at S stone 7 lb. The second London Division headquarters is at King's Road, Chelsea—telephone No. 4838 Kensington.

In the Regular Army or Territorials ?

It has to be remembered that enlistment in the Territorials implies service for four years, mobilization only existing during the period of war. Those who join Lord Kitchener's Army, of course, only join for the period of war, and can apply for their discharge when it is over.

We may repeat that the men who join the Regular Army in the M.T. get 6s,a day (including Sundays), with an allowance for wives and families—Md. per day for the wife and 2d. a day for each boy under 14, and for each girl under 16, The £5 bonus is not now being paid. The Territorials are at present being paid Is, 2d. a day ordinary pay and 2s. for rations whilst in depot. We may conclude by drawing attention to a point which has been raised by a number of correspondents with regard to the medical examination of those who offer their services as skilled artificers or transport drivers. We have received a letter, which

/126

we publish herewith, and following that we madeapplication for information with regard to the point raised. We are informed, officially, that " medical examination in such cases is not as severe as it is in the case of ordinary recruits joining. Slight physical defects will not disqualify a man providing he can pass our other tests, such as driving in the case of motor lorry drivers, and the shop test in the case of fitters." This, we imagine, is a satisfactory answer to the query raised in the letter which follows : The Medical Examination of Driver and Mechanic Recruits.

"We think good service would be done at the present time, if you were to give vent in your columns to a difficulty that we have experienced, and no doubt ether manufacturers also, with regard to obtaining, at the request of the War Office, a supply of drivers, mechanics, etc.

" As you are aware, every effort is being made at the present time to raise the necessary number of men required by Lord Kitchener, and many of our men have been desirous to enlist as drivers, mechanics, etc., where their services could have been particularly useful to the War Office. The medical test, however, these men-have to go through, is apparently exactly the same as if they were joining a regular infantry corps, with the result that a number of first-class men, who knew their work and who we, as manufacturers, had no hesitation in giving the most particular duties to do here, have been thrown out for some little defect.

"When these men decide to offer their services, they generally make it known amongst their friends, and you can, therefore, understand their feelings when they are returned to their work as being rejected. This has the natural result of making those who would be willing, hesitate to comeforward, and it appears to us that where such men as motor me-. charms are wanted, their capacity as mechanics should be the essential part ; unless they show any serious defects, the medical examination should be much less strict in their cases.

" Where an experienced man is wanted for repair work, it is surely of more importance that he should be a thoroughly capable engineer, rather than that he should be of a-certain height, etc., with very mediocre qualification-s as a mechanic."


comments powered by Disqus