Evening star., 1947-07-16
Britain Urged 10 Draft
Non-Productiye Labor
TO Step Up Recovery
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, July 16.-Brltain' s
Labor government was con-
fronted today with a contro-
ersy-provoking proposal for a
peacetime draft of so-called
"nonproductive" workers to fill
the manpower gaps In industry
which are slowing the nations s
economic recovery.
The explosive suggestion was ad-
vanced by Arthur Deakin, general
secretary of the powerful Transport
and General Workers Union, in a
speech directly counter to long
standing union opposition to- labor
conscription and piecework pay.
Mr.. Deakin made the suggestion
yesterday at a conference of his
union in Hastings.
There are thousands Of people
who ought to be put into productive
industry and at once" Mr.. Deakin
declared, after asserting that organ
lied labor must of necessity expect
limited measure Of direction"
Many observers believed Mr..
Deakins' speech was merely trial
balloon released with the approval
of cautious government seeking
the reaction of trade union mem
bers, on which its political strength
is based.
The Daily Herald, Labor Party
organ, repTted that the ministers
concerned are watching closely the
reaction of the trade unions" to Mr..
Deakin's revolutionary proposals,
and added: .
IF there is an overwhelming de-
mand from the trade unions for
"a limited policy of direction OF
labor, the government would con-
slider taking such action
The government as well as the
unions heretofore has been opposed
to peacetime CONSUMPTION of work
ers, repeatedly taking public stands
against 1.-THE last only a month
or two ago.
The country's economic plight
however, has been pictured by Dep
uty Prime Minister Herbert Nor
rison as likely to reach crisis in
the autumn, and the dire threat
of hunger obviously may be acti-
waiting a change in Labor's attitude
The new developments lent
strength to revived rumors that
Ernest Bevin might give up his
portfolio as Foreign Secretary to
become Britain's economic czar.
Mr.. Bevin is a former boss of the
TGWU-which, with 1,300,000 men,
bers claims to be the largest union
in the world. AS wartime Minister
of Labor he mobilized British work.
ers under broad powers to draft
them for whatever jobs they were
needed.
The unions trusted him in that
job and he would be logical choice
to administer renewal OF labor
CONSUMPTION If it comes.
. Recruiting Bogs Down.
! During the war workers also were
frozen in their jobs under essential
work orders" which now have been
largely repealed, although they still
apply to the coal mines, where
youthful conscripts are known as
"Bevin boys"
Voluntary labor recruiting In the
mines-with the five-day week as a
lure - begged down after pulling
about 10000 men into the pits, and
the governments coal target Of
200 100000 tons for the calendar
year seems in danger.
The mines still need thousands OF
workers and the textile mills need
rs, 900 more. 1t is estimated that
40 900 more workers are needed on
the farms.
Meantime the unemployed labor
pool is at its lowest level in the ma
tions history q 272.000 out Of a
working population of about 10000
900. OF the unemployed nearly half
have been out of work only few
weeks.
The employed workers, however,
include thousands working for Soc
hnrcn