In the House of Commons on Wednesday Mr. Walter Long
made a. long, very interesting, and on the whole satisfactory statement on the Derby scheme and the -intentions of the Govern- ment. We are not going to weary cur readers in regard to the , ridiculous statements that Lord Derby had not kept his promises in the spirit and in the letter. We doubt whether even the yellow Press really believes that. The first important point in Mr. Long's speech was that the Government are now not only reducing the reserved occupations, but even in those occupations are scrutinizing the men at work. Inspectors go round to the factories and serve on them what we may call a writ of quo warrant°. Single men of military age have, in effect, to justify their existence in a munition factory as well as elsewhere. After May 1st it is expected that many more occupations will disappear altogether from the certified list. Mr. Long asserted that, speaking generally," no less than two hundred and seventy-five thousand women had already boon sot to work that was previously done by men—work exclusive of agricultural, clerical, commercial, and transport work.
Previous page
