The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-08-14
LABOR NEWS
FROM BRITAIN
eSEAMAN'S WELFARE BOARD
DOES EXCELLENT WORK
ROAD BUILDERS
UNION CONSCIOUS

LOndon.-3efugees from NaZl Ger
many were driven out by racial. po-
litical and religious persecution. They
have found in Britain not only shelter
and protection, but opportunities to
employ their experience, skill and
labor in many industries.
Here are some details of the way
m which victims of continental perse-
,ution have found employment and
have created new industries and
trades.
Nearly a hundred refugee under
!akings, capitalized at not less than
i5OO,0C0, have been started by bodies
of refugee workers in trading estates
established by the government some
years ago as a means Of relieving un-
employment in depressed areas. Most
of the capital for these new enter
prises has been found by the refugees
themselves, either from funds already
invested in Britain or brought out OF
Germany in the early days of the
Nazi terror.
Making Goods Formerly Imported
Among the new productive enter
prises which have found their loca-
ton on the governments trading
estates are plants for the manufac-
ture of plastic goods buttons, brushes,
zip fasteners, leather goods, knitted
wear, silk printing and electrical
equipment.
Elsewhere in wartime Britain
refugee enterprise has developed the
manufacture of mechanical toys, opti-
cal glass, and general glassware
production.
The famous Leipzig trade in fur
trimming and dyeing has provided
London with a new industry employ
ing some hundreds of men. On Tyne
side upwards of a thousand British
workmen have been given employ
ment in a new and flourishing ply
wood and veneer industry.
There is factory producing all
kinds of leather and fabric gloves al
the rate Of 100000 20 100000 dozen
pairs week. 1t employs nearly 800
British workpeople, all of them
trained by four refugee experts.
Britain opened her doors to the vic
TINS of Nazi oppression primarily for
humanitarian reasons, but the same
kind Of thing happened centuries ago.
Flemish and Walloon weavers, victims
Of an earlier religious persecution
established valuable industries in
Britain.
Substantial economic benefits are
among the rewards of British en-
lightenment and tolerance.
When Jack Comes Ashore
Improved facilities for seamen's
welfare in port are receiving the
active attention of the Seamen's
Welfare Board. 1t was set up by the
Ministry of Labor last autumn to ad
wise on all matters concerning the
welfare of British, allied and foreign
seamen in British ports, and The
crews of British ships in oversee
/ ports.
At eight places in Britain Port Wei
| fare Committees have been appointed
and the welfare officers work unde
the supervision of the Seamen's Wei
fare Board. These ports are London
Bristol, Hull, Liverpool, Newcastle
Glasgow Leith and Cardiff.
In each of them the Port Welfare
Committees are cooperating will
local voluntary organizations to de
velop and extend amenities and serv
ices for seamen coming ashore.
Particular attention is being paid il
all this work to the position Of sea
men belonging to allied countries
These port hospitality committee
have the effect Of making allied sea
men feel that they are taking thei
proper place with British comrades Il
the common struggle.
One important measure which !
being vigorously pressed is the i'm
provement of accommodation ashore
The Seamen's Welfare Board
aiming at providing at least one sea
mems hostel in every port. Loca
welfare officers encourage local club
and sports associations to atfor
sailors the opportunity of mixin
with landsmen when they are ashore
American Aid for Scheme
Overseas ports which are used eX
tensively by the British merchan
navy also come within the scope o
the Seamen's Welfare Board
A new British Merchant Navy Clu
was opened by Lord Halifax in Ne,
York quite recently. In other Unite
States ports, local committees hav
: beeen at work and financial assist
, ance-to say nothing of the enthus
iastic help-has been readily forth
, coming. Similarly in Canadian an
) other oversee ports extended welfar
, service for seamen is being dc
veloped.
Through the cooperation of tn
British Red Cross and St. Johns An
bulance with the Welfare Board, mel
chant seamen from armed vessels al
now able to get cigarets and te
l bacco free of duty when they are
= hospital.
: A Seamen's Welfare Fund has rt
r Gently been opened under the auspice
2 of the board. Two donations of $500