12 FEBRUARY 1921, Page 3

The building trade unions last week rejected the Government's offer

of a partial guarantee for time lost in wet weather and of a sum of £250,000 if they would admit 50,000 ex-Service men to fill their depleted ranks. In the ballot, 310,000 men are said to have voted against the offer, and only 2,500 men in favour of it. The trade unionist builders are evidently determined to preserve their monopoly at all costs, though there is admittedly a great scarcity of bricklayers, and housing schemes are delayed indefinitely for want of labour. Dr. Macnamara has stated that there are only 238 unemployed bricklayers, whereas 5,576 are needed at once. If the Government really want to set the ex-Service men to work in building houses, they will cease to negotiate with the builders' unions.