The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-06-12


Lockett, president of the National
Union of Mineworkers North
Staffordshire Area), announced to
an enthusiastic audience here in
the Westminster Theater, how the
idea of teamwork given in the
American MIRA play "The Forgot
ten Factor" had proved effective in
helping British miners break pro-
duction records during the first his
toric week of the Labor Govern
ment's 5-day week.
"Our miners produced an in
crease of 6,067 tons over the pre-
vious week, despite the fact that
they worked one day less" he de-
clared amid cheers. at is most re-
markable this should occur on the
week after THE Forgotten Factor
had been to our coalfield, when
somewhere in the region of 1900
saw the play"
Output Highest In Years
The union committeeman, the La
Dor Director of the National Coal
Board for the Area, and a coal
face worker spoke together from
the same platform along with Mr..
I Stan Awbery, Member of Parlia-
ment and chairman of the Trans
port & General Workers. Group
(Mr. Ernest Bevin's union) in the
House of Commons.
"We hit our 6-day target in Az
days." said Mr.. Harold Heath, the
union committeeman at the Whit
field Pit, the fifth largest in Brit
ain. "a thousand Of our men saw
'The Forgotten Factor last week" {"
Stating that the new spirit in the
mines had not only enabled the
miners to exceed their target, but
also to give one of the largest pro-
portional rises in the country. Mr.
Tom Collier, Labor Director for the
Area, said, "If the Coal Board
would send this play round the
country, their problems would be at
an end. A week ago | told our peo-
pie that with the help of the
spirit of this play the 5-day week
would succeed, and that our area
would give the country a lead.
Now, in 5 days, more coal has come
from the pits than in any other
week for many years"
Hard Battle Still Ahead
This is hearteninng for Prime
Minister Attlee and his colleagues
who had taken the courageous step
of vastly improving the lot of the
British miner by first decreasing
the working hours and bettering
conditions, while desperately need
ing increased coal production to
save the country. Output is def
nitely going up, but the battle is
still far from won. 1t is a race
with time as well as a struggle
against nature and human nature.
Next winters reserve coal sup
plies must be increased. This week
at special meeting of the Ma
tional Joint Advisory Council con
sisting Of representatives Of The
British Employers Confederation
and the Trade Union Congress, il
was made clear that they regard
ed the Governments present target
of 200,O00,000 tons as too low. The
task now is to maintain the new
energy and teamwork-and "The
Forgotten Factor" is designed for
that very job. 1t shows how new
incentive can be a constant force in
the lives of the masses in indus
try, and it is doing this with great
er effect than speeches or bill
boards.
Bitterness OF Years Healed
Creating scenes unprecedented in
the history Of the Queens Hall in
Burslem, where the play was given
on the invitation Of the National
Union of Mineworkers North Stat
thousands Of miners
from Il pits crammed into every
seat and corner Of The building.
Union leaders, managers, colliery |
and Coal Board officials were there
all together, with their wives and
families.
Typical of the entirely new out
look which came through seeing the
play, was the change in one Off
cial. The union secretary said of |
him, "We'd fought each other for |
Is years, but now we cooperate in |
the best way" Asked if this had |
happened since he had seen "The |