The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (30 page)

The success of Lord Derby's plan of recruiting was in a large measure due to the tremendous amount of work put into the organisation by the political party agents throughout the country. They brought to bear a wide experience and a sound knowledge of men and matters, and at a time when the tide of recruiting seemed about to ebb they helped forward the flood with a rush. The party agents and the local committees in every ward of every borough and every polling district of every county are in touch with every section of the community. They are patriotic men, and would assuredly give their valuable assistance to any plan which would bring out the whole of the country's resources at a time when every citizen of the Empire should lend a hand to win the war. Properly organised, there could be no more efficient source for the collection and distribution of personnel than the united organisations of the political parties of the State.

I may also point out that the County Territorial Associations contain many of the most influential men in the counties. At this day it is unnecessary to refer to the untiring work these gentlemen have ungrudgingly given for the public good. Many of them – practically all of military age – are now serving with the Army, but there are left a number of older men of great influence and capacity who would be readily available, and could be used with the best advantage for the purposes of the scheme. The paid staffs of the associations have already so
much to do that they are unable to attend to more, but a small special staff under each official secretary of associations could render useful service. The cost would not be heavy, and as the scheme would work for the benefit of the nation the financing of it would be a charge on the public funds.

I am, your obedient servant,

Middle Class

I am, &c.,

A Willing One
Sutton

I suppose it would not a practical thing to suggest that lathes for the manufacture of munitions should be put up in our workshops and gymnasium, because it would not be profitable to run machinery for only two hours each day. But there are many things we could do, and if there are 50,000 public school boys in the kingdom ready to give up their spare time for at least two hours each day, it is surely a national waste not to employ us.

At the end of three months the output of boys who collectively worked 100,000 hours a day would be prodigious. I am sure our masters would help the cause, and would instruct us in any work allotted by the Government. The Germans, we hear, compel their boys to work. Why not accept the free offer of public school boys to work for Britain?

Your obedient servant,

Upper Middle

I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

Mary S. Edwards

Chine Hall, Spa Road, Boscombe, Hants

It is agreed, however, that if we are to carry this war on to a successful conclusion we must have not only more men for the fighting lines, but more munition workers, and that fresh sources of supply of labour must be tapped if the vital industries of the nation are to be kept going. It is admitted that female labour must be more and more extensively used; but we must not overlook the fact that there are many men of the leisured classes at the present time absolutely unoccupied.

Why should not Lord Derby's scheme be applied to men over military age with a view to civil employment in the interests of the Empire? Let them be canvassed preferably by men who have been canvassed, attested and passed to the Army Reserve. Let those who are willing to respond to the call of their country register at the labour exchanges. If the response is not satisfactory, let them be compelled to register. There is no need to devise some more select agency. The labour exchange is just now as honourable a place for those over military age to use as is the recruiting office for those of military age. Class distinctions are anathema at this time of the Empire's peril.

After registration each man who was not in useful employment would be sent where he would be of most use and most needed. For instance, the retired Civil servant would be sent back to the Service to release those eligible for the Army. Those who are not capable of taking posts of responsibility would be drafted as unskilled labourers to munition works or to those trades whose continuance is of vital importance to the country.

When it is urged that it would be incongruous for such men to work as unskilled labourers and to receive the pay of an unskilled labourer, it is overlooked that at the present time many a former leader of industry is serving in the ranks of the Army and receiving the pay of a private. Again, if and when many businessmen are called up in their groups under the Derby scheme, their businesses will smash and, if married, their homes will be broken up, for there will be no employer to supplement their Army pay. In comparison with such sacrifices, that of the leisured man would fade into insignificance.

We hear a great deal of the young unmarried slacker, but let us not overlook those equally blameworthy – those over military age who are doing nothing when every man should be doing something to help in this time of need.

Yours, &c.,

Gilbert B. Soddy

Eastbourne

There is now and always has been a very large number of machines, a large amount of space already built, and enormous power to work the machines standing idle in this country, and in the different towns where these machines, space and power are situated, there is a number of men who are too old to fight who could work a lathe, and they are too old to leave their homes and go to London and work in the Government factories. These men could if they were given the opportunity not only work a lathe, but they could teach the boys and women to work them in a very few days, hence we could get the whole of our munitions manufactured in our country towns, thereby releasing many thousands of eligible men from the huge factories in London and other places.

It seems a great pity that so much of the country's money should be wasted in building factories when there is no need. And, again, there are thousands of idle fingers as your correspondent suggests only too willing and eager to do necessary work for their country, if they only had the opportunity. To give work to these idle fingers I would like to suggest that not only munitions of war are required, but there is work that others could do if they could see and know what was required. To give them this opportunity there should be a sample sent of anything and everything that is
required by the Government into each town and exhibited in some large room or hall, so that the inhabitants who are willing could go and see what was required, and in a moment see if they could help in its manufacture.

I feel confident that everything that is needed could be made in this way, and all willing and idle fingers could be quickly set at work if our Government could be induced to try a scheme of this kind.

Yours truly,

A Country Engineer

Tunbridge Wells

Up to the present I have seen no authoritative a statistics of the National Registration, and I venture to say action should be taken on the results of this census. Doubtless a large sum of money was spent on this, as well as on Lord Derby's scheme, and it would be wasteful to allow such an expenditure of capital without securing the fullest return.