What the Government ought to do is to organize the
ex-Service men on their own account without saying so much as " by your leave " to the building unions. There is so great a need for houses that there would be no clashing between union and non-union labour. The ex-Service builders could work in gangs by themselves where they would be much happier than alongside the trade unionists who have rewarded them for their war service by giving them the cold shoulder. A man can. be trained to lay bricks a good deal quicker than most people suppose. The country which improvised armies in a few months can improvise bricklayers in a few weeks. Moreover, there must be among ex-Service men a good many who have some knowledge of building. Anyhow, there are several kinds of building—such as in concrete and pisi—which do not require bricks at all.
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