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Page Two February 1, 1943 (Main Title) FEBRUARY IS TO BE WAR SAVINGS MONTH IN AJAX Employees Are Urged to Help Themselves by Helping Their Country Win The War (Column 1) MUNITIONS MINISTER EXPLAINS CAUSE OF LAYOFFS IN WAR INDUSTRIES Production Program Affected by War Requirements OTTAWA, January 15 The following statement regarding the steps being taken to minimize the effects of lay-offs in war industry was issued today by Munitions Minister C. D. Howe: "I have noted a lack of understanding of lay-offs of workers in war plants that occur from time to time, and feel that an explanation is due both to workers in war plants and to the public. Lay-offs of this type are avoided wherever possible, and have not been frequent. Nevertheless, such lay-offs have occurred and will inevitably occur in the future. "The continually changing requirements of modern warfare make necessary, from time to time, changes and modifications in our production program. To obtain initial equipment for our Armed Services without undue delay, it is necessary to provide capacity in excess of requirements, to replace wastage. Certain of our plants have reached the stage where initial equipment is wholly provided and where output must be reduced to meet the demand for replacements. It is our practice to place another type of production in this plant, but usually retooling is necessary. Lack of shipping also can affect production to an extent that a reduced output from war plants is necessary. The type of weapon being produced may become obsolete, and retooling may be necessary before the new and improved weapon can be brought into production. "Changes of this nature necessarily affect employment in war plants. Where a program has to be curtailed because of changed war requirements, it may be necessary for a certain proportion of the employees to be laid off. This has already occurred in one or two instances. It does not follow, how-ever, that lay-offs are going to be widespread. On the contrary, the number of persons employed in war production is constantly increasing. The people of Canada may rest assured that labour will not be wasted. "In order to minimize the effects of lay-offs, I have instructed all war contractors, whether Government-owned companies, or private contractors, to advise this Department in advance of prospective lay-offs. Contractors have also been instructed to take their employees into their confidence and discuss the problem with them beforehand, in order that they may understand the situation and assist in making the most orderly arrangements which the circumstances permit. "Furthermore, we have arranged with the Department of Labour and National Selective Service for the setting up of machinery which will arrange for the orderly transfer of persons laid off to other war and essential industries, as required. This machinery is now functioning, and, I am advised, has already arranged in a number of cases, for an orderly transference of workers from plants where curtailment has occurred to plants where labour is required. In other cases, there may be a lag between the lay-off and the time of transfer, but this is unavoidable. "I trust that all parties concerned will appreciate this inevitable situation, and will co-operate to the full in order that Canada's war effort will remain at a maximum level." (Column 2) WAR WORKER JAILED FOR BREACH OF DEFENCE REGULATIONS Evidence of the fact that there are teeth in the Defence of Canada Regulations and that Section 39 (C) of the regulations is being strictly enforced is provided in the news that an employee of a Defence Industries Limited plant has been sentenced to serve six months for seditious utterances. According to affidavits filed by the man's fellow workers, he was heard to make statements prejudicial to the country's war effort. The fact that he was a war worker made his remarks particularly offensive to those who heard them. One witness, a veteran of the last War, was particularly incensed at the sentiments the man expressed. He described him as being disloyal as he talked adversely about the country and criticized the cause for which so many of our men in uniform are making the supreme sacrifice. It is felt that this case may tend to serve as a warning to others prone to criticize our war aims in a foolish, irresponsible manner. The authorities regard such actions as verbal sabotage and are anxious to weed out from the ranks of war workers, in particular, those of similar sentiments. LOCAL CAMPAIGN SEEKS SUPPORT FOR THE AID TO RUSSIA FUND Early Response Assures Success for Drive Suggested by Mr. Alex Welch, Field Organizer for the United Electrical Workers Union, and by many individual employees, a campaign will be conducted here between February 1 and 15 to secure contributions to the Canadian Aid to Russia Fund. Canvassers will be the foremen in each department who have been provided with scrolls supplied by the Fund on which the name and donation of each contributor will be recorded. Campaign Has Wide Support That the campaign has properly aroused the sympathetic interest of everyone is indicated by the array of individuals, church groups, service clubs and other organizations which have endorsed it. All feel that it is a means by which the Canadian people can tangibly express its appreciation of the bravery and sacrifice of our Russian allies. However, irrespective of how much money may be raised for the Fund, all thinking Canadians admit it will represent only a small instalment of their debt to the Russian people. But for their courage in the streets of Stalingrad, their bravery, tenacity and self-sacrifice at Leningrad, their martyrdom during the first awful months when the Huns first swept like a plague across their borders, the history of the war would be tragically different today. It was the people of Russia who, at the price of their agony, first stopped Hitler's hordes. Thanks to them, we, in company with all the other United Nations, had the time to prepare for our own offensive. Ajax war workers will enthusiashc-ally support the Canadian Aid-to-Russia Fund is the opinion here. (Column 3) Read and Weep! Herewith is a breakdown showing how each department's present monthly subscriptions for War (Chart Column 3) Savings Stamps and Certificates compare with what they should be: These are the figures the canvassers will ask all employees to improve. As War Savings Certificates are a good investment a practical way to save and vital to Victory, we should be able to do that. (Column 4) COMMITTEE URGES DRIVE TO UP LOCAL SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW AT NEW LOW Canvassers Will Seek to Make Everybody a Subscriber During Month Long Campaign Because war costs money and taxes alone are not enough to pay for them; because the price of freedom is calculated in dollars and cents as well as in the "blood, tears and sweat" of our fighting men; because every person who claims the name Canadian should share the load with all other Canadians, and because the sale of War Savings Stamps and Certificates here at the Pickering Works has sunk to a new, a pathetic new low, every employee will be asked to pledge, from now until the war's end, part of his or her wages to the purchase of War Savings Certificates during a plant-wide drive to be made this month. Committees Formed Every employee will be canvassed. In every department of the Works, departmental canvassers have been formed and some of the canvassers are hard at work already soliciting their co-workers' support. Each knows what his department has been subscribing and how much more it should to even approximate the quota which the National War Finance Committee figures should be subscribed from wages and salaries. If they manage to up the subscriptions to that figure before the month ends they will have done a big job because there isn't one department of the Works now subscribing anything like its quota! The National War Finance Committee claims that 5% of all wages and salaries should be subscribed for War Savings exclusive of Victory Bonds; the workers of the Pickering Works in De-(Column 5) cember the last month for which the figures are available only subscribed .7 of 1% of their wages! Not All Employees' Fault It is not entirely the employees' fault that the subscriptions have sunk to such a low level, it was admitted at a meeting with War Finance Committee officials held to consider how the situation could be improved. It was the opinion of many present that the employees were not asked often enough to invest in War Savings and thus aid the Government in financing the war. As a consequence, the Ottawa officials suggested the drive which is now underway. Everyone a Subscriber, is Goal The canvassers have been provided with pledge cards and a determined effort will be made to interest everyone in subscribing. It has been suggested that as 5%, at least, of a person's wages should be saved by purchasing War Savings Stamps and Certificates, each should calculate his or her own personal quota and subscribe accordingly. Everyone cannot do that because of personal obligations but the majority of people can, it is contended. Another suggestion is that whenever possible, a subscriber should subscribe for stamps in multiples of $4 as each $4 represents one certificate ultimately worth $5. However, the principal object of the campaign is to persuade everyone to help the War Effort by buying War Savings Stamps regularly irrespective of the amount.(Bottom Right Article) An Editorial That .7 of 1 Per Cent .7 of 1%. That's the sum total of our subscriptions to War Savings Stamps and Certificates in relation to wages. Instead of the 5% which the National War Finance Committee has established as a fair quota for all wage-earners, we don't even subscribe 1%. Just .7 of 1%. Why is that? We know that it's a figure not even remotely indicative of how the war workers of Ajax are backing the country's War Effort in so many other ways, yet it is a difficult figure to explain away. What is the explanation? We are inclined to think it's just a matter of forgetfulness, of neglect. Nearly everybody believes in War Savings the exceptions are few and far between both from the patriotic angle and as a hedge against postwar unsettlement, but, unless we deliberately plan their regular purchase, we are disposed to forget about them. We neglect two duties when we do that, too: our duty to our country and our duty to ourselves. Nearly everyone owns life insurance. How many remember to pay the premiums without a reminder from the insurance company? Very few, we venture to say. Left to us, although we believe in insurance, a lot of it would lapse each year. It's the same with War Savings Stamps and Certificates. We believe in them but we can forget about them too easily. About the best way to buy them systematically and not run the risk of forgetting them is to purchase them on the Wage Deduction Plan. All you have to do is to decide how much you want to save and the Pay Office does your remembering for you. That's the proposition your department canvasser will put up to you this month. Of course, he will tell you what an attractive investment War Savings Certificates are, too; how each accrues in value, how every $4 will get you $5 in seven years and so on. But, you know they are a good buy, so, when the canvasser gets to you, pledge as much as you can. It's an investment in Victory. Make that .7 of 1% look sick. How about 5%?