Present and Future Control of Min Power
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An Interesting and Informative Survey of the Labour Policy of the Government and How it is Likely to Affect Industry in the Post-war Years
• By "Tantalus"
THOSE people who Are old enotigh to remember the past great war arid its attendant problems, together with the manner. in which they were overcome, will agree that the difficulties then encountered appear small and insigniftcantsin comparison with those throlgn up by the present war, which hate been immense, The change over from a peace-time basis to that involving the mobilization pf a whole nation for total war has been a stupendous task. Of all the problems of this war none has exceeded in importance or greatness that of labour, with all the intricacies and ramifications attached thereto. Surveying the position as ff whole, it must be admitted that this problem has been handled cleverly and with commend
able foresight. '
Many persons are of the opinion that decisions made by the Ministry of Labour in connection with the control of labour are arrived at haphazardly and on the spur of the moment, so to speak; that, in fact, they are not accorded due thought and deliberation. Such, however, is not the case—far from it. Very few of the war-time problems have demanded greater attention than that of labour, and plans were prepared well in advance of the time when it would be necessary to put definite schemes into operation_ Having regard to the immense-machino which had to be set up, all has gone with amazing smoothness.
In dealing with the organization—or reorganization—of millions of people of both sexes for purposes of total war, some anomalies arise and are inevitable. Decisions are made which cause hardship in individual cases and may appear .unjust, whilst, conversely, certain decisions enhance the position of others, " What is one man's meat is another man's poison." Such are the penalties of war!
In reviewing the policy of the Government regarding labour, it is interesting to note the manner in which the Nation has been led, step by step, upon the road of mobilization. Each successive step has rendered the position more difficult—a state of affairs which will in no wise diminish as the tempo of war increases.
Whea conscription was applied it was obvious that the Government recognized the necessity of protecting labour engaged in industries essential to the war effort. In order to afford the requisite protection there came into being the first step—a Schedule of Reserved Occupations—the principles of which are sufficiently well known to render comment superfluous. This was a clever move and may be cited as an example of clear thinking and statesmanlike , design. More, however, was to come, for as the demands of the Armed Forces became -greater—coincident with the rapid expansion of war industries to meet the needs of such forces—the necessity of transferring directly into the war effort labour not engaged in essential work became apparent.
• Ingenious and Novel Principles It was in December, 1941, that the Minister of Labour and National Service led the Nation into the second step— a revised edition of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations —introducing, for the first time, principles both novel and ingenious.. Amongst them was the closing of the Register of Protected Establishments, the introduction of a new deferment procedure, special schemes for certain occupations and—perhaps most important of all—the progressive raising of ages of reservation, whereby the pool of available man-power was increased enormously. Conjointly with the new deferment procedure there came into being the District Man Power Boards. • There must be very few employers—if any—who, from personal experience, by this time, are not fully acquainted with these bodies. The creation of tte Boards is considered by many to be a masterpiece of mass psychology. Certainly there can be no doubt as to the success of the innovation. Employers are not treated arbitrarily; they are given every opportunity to plead for any employee Who is regarded as of sufficient importance to merit deferment. Such cases, of course, are governed by the essential nature of the work upon which the concern is engaged. In such rapidly changing conditions as are now being experienced, there necessarily must be a constant reviewing of the manpower position, with resultant variations in orders and regulations.
The position cannot remain static; For example, there is the case of the withdrawal or suspension of contracts not renewable owing to changes in production demands. Employers so placed are not granted deferment for the employees involved, because, in such event, no hanger will they he engaged on the work for which deferment originally was granted. Similarly this condition applies to concentration Schemes, as carried out by certain industries, the object being to release labour to meet national demands.
One fact stands out clearly and should be fully recognized, namely, that as the war progresses the labour position must become increasingly difficult and the cords of control obviously will be drawn tighter. •
A Major Post-war Problem •
From the foregoing it becomes apparent that the plansof the Ministry of Labour have been devised and carried out with the greatest care and concentration of effort. Of the burdens borne by members of the Government none has been carried more courageously or with more understanding and determination than those shouldered by the Labour Minister. His burdens will not be lifted even when the war is over; in fact the load may become heavier. The future position of labour will be one of the major post-war problems demanding attention.
Although no definite policy has been announced, statements have been made, from time to time, by responsible members of the Government, indicating the continued control of materials for some considerable period after the cessation of hostilities. If this be so, then, in the natural sequence, industry, too, will be similarly, controlled. Logically it must be assumed that in such control labour will be included; for the one cannot function withiaut the others.
There is no indication as to the form of control, but it is safe to assume that the Minister of Labour will not readily relinquish the powers with which he has been endowed. _ In order to regulate the labour market it may be that all persous seeking employment—and employers wishing to engage labour—will be able to do so only throngh and by permission of the Ministry of Labour. This condition might well apply to all persons irrespective of position or the remuneration involved.
As to the position of industries, necessarily there must be some order of priority regarding a return to a peacetime production basis. In such event one can visualize the building and allied trades being in the front rank in an effort to tackle the housing problem. This would at once affect the release from the Forces of men whose pre-war occupation was concerned with these trades. In turn this would affect transport and road transport in particular with the release of men concerned up to the numbers required for such work. In other words, the change back of industry to peace-time production and the release of men from the Forces will, in the main, be governed by the world position of supply of materials.
A further speculation regarding the future control of labour is the possibility of the retention of the Man Power Boards for some time after the war, if not as permanentinstitutions..
Whatever may be the final Government pleas for dealing with labour, it-can be anticipated that they will be thoughtfully and judiciously prepared well . in advance, and mkt-slated to meet prevailing difficulties.