The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-11-06
LABOR news
FROM BRITAIN
. WORKERS WELFARE
NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
. TRIUMPH OF PLANNING

London.-Within year a bigger
workers welfare organization has
been built up in wartime Britain than
ever existed before. 1t is the creation
of the Ministry of Labor and National
Service.
Fifteen months ago, the Minister
| ernest Bevin) arranged with his
ministerial colleague at the home Of
flee to take over it's factory inspec-
torate and the machinery for the ad
ministration of the factory acts. 1t
has combined these with the welfare
activities of his own ministry in a
new Factory and Welfare Depart
ment.
A report upon it's first years work
has just been presented to the Min
lister. 1t reveals a widespread organi-
zation, engaged in remarkably useful
work.
In each of the eleven divisions cor
responding roughly to the civil de-
fense regions into which the country
has been divided, there is divisional
welfare officer.
Under his direction are local well
| fare officers and nearly hundred of
them are at work in the various re-
gions.
Their main functions are to see
that the workpeople in their areas
especially the workers transferred
from other areas to do work Of ma
tional importance-fnd satisfactory
accommodation, facilities for meals,
transport, recreation and all other
amenities that can be provided for
their health and comfort. This is
merely one aspect-though an i'm
portant one-of the welfare work
carried on under expert and sympa-
thetic supervision.
Serving the Transferred Workers
What happens when a number Of
workpeople are transferred from one
area to another will show how the
welfare machinery operates.
1t is the business of the local en-
ployment exchange officials to ar
range for the journey of such group
Of workers. If the journey is very
long and complicated member of one
or other of the voluntary associations
assisting the Ministry's Welfare De-
partment, or a representative of the
employers will accompany the party.
1t is met on arrival by welfare
officer. He is already aware of the
arrangements made for the reception
Of the party, and has helped to find
billets and he takes the party to the
local employment exchange.
There representatives of the Food
Office, of the Billeting Office, of the
A. r. P. Office, are in attendance to
give each member of the party infor-
nation and to assist them in getting
their ration books transferred, their
gas masks inspected, and arranging
for the transport of their luggage and
personal possessions to their billets.
The party of transferred workers
will spend the first night at one of
the Reception Hostels maintained by
the Ministry.
Here voluntary workers under the
supervision of the welfare officials
see that proper meals are available,
and that the transferees find their
way to their billets next day; often
the transferred worker will be accom-
panied to his billet and introduced to
his hostess.
At the hostels the transferees are
told of the amenities that are pro-
vided in the district and where they
can get help and guidance from the
official bureaux when any difficulty
arises.
Such difficulty, for instance, as
discomfort or unpleasantness with the
landlady upon whom a transferred
worker may be billeted
1t may happen that a worker feels
uncomfortable in his billet. He may
find an unsympathetic landlady in
stead Of friendly one. She may re-