Arms and Equipment
For the moment all eyes are concentrated on the gigantic struggle of the armed forces to stem the tide of invasion by an enemy who in arms and equipment is far superior to the Allies on land and outnumbers them in the air. But side by side with that effort must go another not less strenuous, to ensure that in future battles our forces will not be thus cruelly handicapped. Happily there is now a trio of energetic men in the Ministry who are bent on making up for the neglect of the past—Mr. Herbert Morrison, Mr. Ernest Bevin and Lord Beaverbrook. Mr. Morrison at the Ministry of Supply is not thc man to tolerate the continuance of procrastination, red-tape and, still worse, profiteering interests which have foisted them- selves upon some sections of the department. From his end of the Government we may look for a sterner approach to the problem, consistent with the conditions of a country fighting for its life. Lord Beaverbrook at the Ministry of Aircraft Production brings the outlook of a man versatile, realistic, and accustomed to rapid execution. Already he has secured for aircraft production the services of large numbers of skilled fitters who were giving their time to non-essential work. Last, but by no means least, Mr. Ernest Bevin at the Ministry of Labour speaks as a trade unionist to trade unionists, and his influence will go far to make them realise that peace-time regulations must go, and that nothing matters now in com- parison with bigger and bigger output.
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