§ 113. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the dearth of skilled cotton workers and the fear that some of the older operatives will leave the industry with the introduction of the two-shift system, he will consider abandoning the urge for its adoption.
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir. I am aware that shortage of operatives would preclude the working of two shifts in all the existing mills, were they all to be re-equipped, and this is one reason why the Government attach importance to the formation of groups of mills so that where necessary workers may be transferred so as to concentrate their activities into fewer mills working two shifts. The timing of the change-over in any group of mills should, of course, take account of possible loss of labour due to the change. I hope that the Government's policy will have the full cooperation of the operatives, as well as of the employers, and that any loss due to the introduction of two-shift working will be kept to a minimum.