The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-05-27
Labor News From Britdin

LOndon.-It has been said, by one Of
Britain's leading economists, that the
workers greatest gain during the last
war was the establishment Of the
shorter working week. In this war,
probably the greatest social gain will
be won in the field of health and well
fare. One remarkable advance in this
field has already been recorded-the
appointment by the Minister of Labour
and National Service of an Advisory
Committee to advise him on technical
and scientific aspects of the work OF
his Factory and Welfare Department,
in relation to industrial health
Under the Minister'S personal chair
manship, this advisory body has now
been constituted. Representatives OF
Government departments, of employers
organizations, and of the Trades Union
| Congress, together with such distin-
guished medical men and scientists as
Lord Moran, president of the Royal
College Of Physicians, Professor
! Arthur W. Ellis. Regius Professor Of
Medicine at oxford University and a
member Of the Medical Research
| Council Professor J. A. Ryle, Pro
| fessOr of Social Medicine at the same
| University, DR.. s. l.. Smith of the
! Department Of Scientific and Indus
trial Medical Officers, and Dr. NJ. w.
Paterson, secretary Of the Association
of Certifying Factory Surgeons to
name only "a few-constitute the Com
mittee.
A more competent group of experts
could not be brought together. 1t Will
powerfully reinforce the Factory and
Welfare organization Of the Ministry
of Labour.
Development OF Preventive Medicine
At the first meeting Of this Ad
visOry Committee the Minister gave Il
clear and comprehensive survey Of the
problems upon which he wishes it To
concentrate its attention. He empha
sized the point that the Committees
concern is primari with the develop
ment of preventive medicine in CON
nection with industrial conditions
which are contributory causes Of i'll
health and disease
| More attention must be given, Mr..
Bevin said, TO such matters as nutri-
ton, to the design of machinery, to
| hygienic precautions in the work
shops, to light, ventilation and safety.
And there is the problem Of enabling
workers to 90 home from the factories
without taking with them the dirt and
CRIME that are inseparable from many
forms of employment
We are looking forward to the day.
Mr.. Bevin said. when we shall lot only
be providing baths for miners at the
pitheads as we do now, but when
proper facilities will be established
as part of the general factory equip
ment to enable all workpeople to go
home clean from their work.
This" he declared will have a
double effect ii will tend to increas Sc
cleanliness in production itself and it
will also avoid taking the filth of the
works into the homes. This dirt is Il
contributory cause of unpleasantness,
ill-health and irritation, especially
where people are in contact with all
kinds of chemical processes, and the
smell and dirt are taken from the fac
tory to the home. 1t is all a question of
facilities and habits
Mr.. Bevin pointed out to his con-
ference of experts that the problem OF
environment and welfare has received
much closer attention in the Armed
Services during this war The result
will be, he observed, that we shall
have returning to civilian life at the
end of the war large numbers of both
men and women who have become
accustomed to value their health as
result of the training they have re-