Feeding the Factories
The new training-centre plans for turning unemployed men into semi-skilled workers in vital industries will serve a double purpose. In the first place, they will pro- vide work requiring intelligence for men of a superior type among the unemployed, and equip them for a trade ; and, secondly, they will add to the supply of men much needed in the engineering industry. The existing centres have been increased in number, and the age-limits have been relaxed so that men between 20 and 45 may be admitted, as well as men of 19 and men between 20 and 25 if they are not fit for military service. Men from so-called black-coated occupations as well as industrial workers will be welcomed, and will have an opportunity of equipping themselves for important war-time occupation, and if they do well in their subsequent employment will qualify as fully skilled workers. The centres aim only at turning out 40,000 men a year, but if most of them become fully skilled that will be no mean contribution to the supply of engineers. Under the arrangements with the trades unions for dilution, a far larger number of men may be quickly drafted into the factories to work under the direction of experienced hands. But a certain proportion of fully skilled men is essential. The training-centres should increase the supply.
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