Stretching the Labour Force
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BRITAIN'S 'great efforts in the export field„ com bined with .the need for at least . a partial restocking of the home market, have naturally resulted in the utilization of a labour force which is almost at its, peak. In fact, unemployment -is negligible, and the few in this category do not form -a practical reserve of man power. It is claimed in some quarters that the r&luction of hours in ,all industries has contributed to this effect,nd there are others who believe that, whether it be the 'after-effects of the recent, war or the result of -deterioration in the quality Of food as compared with pre-war supplies, many workers, are not pulling their weight even during their decreased -working time. Now that rearmament is tbe *edited, the major problem ariseS: as to how best the 'existing labour force can be used and increased. It May be possible to employ -rnIre-female• -labour; although this is already being done to a considerable extent in some factories. There may be a switch to war materials, mainly from production for the home market, which would undoubtedly involve' restrictions and other difficulties, or even from manufacturing for export.
Problems of Materials Supply A reduction in output for either home or over-_ seas would be regrettable. One or both courses, however, might be forced upon us by the diversion of certain materials, such as steel, of which, even now, supplies, especially of sheet, are insufficient to meet the demand. In the labour sphere. however, weare convinced that much more could be achieved in certain directions with even the present force. • During the course of their duties, representatives of this journal visit many factories in the production and other fields, and they have noted with interest that in some of them one worker will be in charge of a number of automatic machines, whilst in others it is a case of one person per machine. 'Many modern machine toOls requite very little attention once they have been properly set up for special jobs, and labour is thus being wasted. There are some factories where full consideration has not been given to the benefits of flow production and the employment of labour-saving devices, such as works trucks and conveyors. This is frequently due to excessive congestion. The demands on capacity have been met by the 'addition of new tools, whilst the difficulty of expanding the shops has forced encroachment upon the gangways, making them unsuitable for the increased traffic along them and barring the employment of power trucks. Greatly increased supplies of raw ,materials and partly finished goods, alSO', of components and accessories purchased oi.ttside, 'together with the rise in product-ion.. are, causing much difficulty in tenipc2rary':storage, 'and what were once free and wide aisles are frequently found to be seriously CongcSted with overflows from the stores.
Rotrictions. on Expansion
, . In the case of certain factories and other works adjacent to important centres of population, the use of land originally purchased to permit expansions is being forbidden, and the companies owning • such sites are peremptorily informed that any expansion must take place in other parts of the country. This might be considered reasonable in normal times, but it undoubtedly involves much duplication of effort and considerable extra transport; consequently, the output per worker is liable to be reduced.
There are probably many other factors to which we have not drawn particular attention, such as the effects of trade-union policy, which in many cases strictly limits what a craftsman is permitted to do, and in certain instances demands that the employment of• what should be a labour-saving device must not displace any labour. It must not 6e thought that we are, in these remarks, alluding to our industry in particular. Many of them apply in the general sense.
If the intended results are to be achieved without undue hardship and excessive loss of production elsewhere than in armaments, there should be an analytical investigation of the whole field, and all those concerned—employers, labour and the unions—should be represented. Orders and instructions issued by a Government Department can have a serious effect upon industry unless they be founded upon Pull knowledge of the position, and thus be truly realistic. Overlapping in demands and priorities, which are so frequently a feature of a state of war, will not be welcomed, or even achieve the results required during a period of peace, although it be an uneasy one.
A Blanket Over London's Traffic URGENT measures are necessary to deal with traffic congestion in inner London. Although, broadly speaking, there has been a reduction since 1939 of nearly 15 per cent. in the volume of traffic at the 102 points at which the Metropolitan Police took a census last year, the problem of congestion is becoming steadily worse. In his report for 1949, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis says that "ii has now assumed dimensions which cause me grave concern." He attributes the choking of London's thoroughfares largely to the presence of standing vehicles. Parking facilities, particularly for coaches, are inadequate, and the effect of prohibiting waiting in certain streets has, been to cause congestion in less important, although useful, arteries. "No waiting" orders have expedited the flow of vehicles.. and the number of accidents in the streets affected has dropped, but the main problem is unsolved. The paralysis which is likely to overtake London's traffic when the Festival of Britain opens next year is frightening to contemplate. Improvements are being made to roads at key points on the routes to the exhibition and a large amount of parking accommodation off the highway has been earmarked, but, says the Commissioner, "when all practical possibilities in this direction have been exhausted, it is obvious that the handlinL, of the exhibition traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, on top of the ordinary day-to-day traffic . . . will remain an enormous task." The Government has made a fundamental error in deciding to hold the Festival in the centre of London. The ordinary difficulties of carrying on trade in the metropolis are great enough without the addition of a blanket of traffic congestion which will extend far into the suburbs. One of the fundamental objects of the exhibition—to stimulate British industry-will be defeated if all normal movement is to cease. The customary summer-time repairs to roads will become impossible and the state of London's highways, which even now would disgrace a distressed area, will become still worse. Already a minor disturbance to traffic has been caused by the Festival. One of the most extensive parking grounds for coaches has had to be surrendered to the exhibition, with the result that the problem of finding accommodation for the many vehicles which bring private parties to London's historic centre has been aggravated.
Declare War on Obstruction' The police have done all that is possible to secure parking space. and the problem of congestion must be tackled at once by making the streets inore suitable for moving traffic. Often minor alterations to road layouts greatly ease the flow of vehicles. Local authorities should be instructed to comb their boroughs and remove all obstructions that could be eliminated at reasonable cost and in a short Lime. The problem of congestion should never have been allowed to reach its present magnitude, but, as it has done so, urgent action must be taken to reduce its incidence before Festival visitors bring London's traffic to a halt.