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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1941-11-13, Page 7Thursday, Nov. 13th, 1941 WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES PAGE SEVW Notice To The Public! Having* enlisted with the Canadian Forces for Active Service for the duration of the war, I will be absent from my business for an indefinite period. AUCTIONEER BUSINESS For the benefit of my clients, L have arranged with Mr. Wm. Scott, of Monkton, to conduct my business for me during my absence. Arrangements for sales can be made at Kemp’s Coal Office, Lustowel, MONUMENT BUSINESS The Monument business will be continued by my part­ ner, Mr. Wellington Ronald, in the present location. I will gratefully appreciate the courtesy of the public if the patronage given to me will be continued to the gentleman conducting my business until I return, for which I« sincejely thank you. ► F. W. KEMP CANADA AT WAR I NO. 1 — THE MOTOR INDUSTRY PLAYS ITS PART □First, of a series of six articles by C. Earl Rice formerly of the Spring­ field Times, Lac Du Bonnet, iMani- ' toba. In this series of articles on “Can­ ada at War”, I want to deal with phases of the Avar effort, little known to the general public. Most, people have an idea of the work being done by our Army, Air Force, and Navy, "but few people have a real conception of the magnitude of our industrial endeavour. Had it 'not-been for the production of motorized units in Canada during Ambulances, Reconnaissance Cars and many other types of motorized equip­ ment are rolling off the assembly lines of the Automotive plants in Canada at the rate of more than 600 a day. Besides the building of motorized equipment, the automotive industry is operating armament plants, building motors to be used to lower the bal­ loons in the barrages over Britain, and contributing in may other ways to the ’war effort. * Vast Plant The first plant I visited stands on a 200-acre site, and over 50 acres are Huge numbers of Canadian-made I geing assembled in England after ar- military vehicles are being shipped to I rival from Canada. These play a big Great ‘Britain. Trucks are here shown (part in the war. the last year and a half, on a scale unsurpassed anywhere in the British Empire, General Wavell would not have accomplished the victories of the -Army of the Nile in Libia, last year. Universal carriers, Heavy four-Wheel Drive Trucks, Eight Trucks, Tractors, A. H. McTAVISH, B.A. Teeswater, Ontario Barciste*, Solicitor, Notary Public and Conveyancer , Office: Gofton House, Wroxeter every Thursday afternoon 1.30 to 4.50 and by appointment. Phone — Teeswater 120J. under roof. It generates its own elec­ tricity and 320 tons of coal are burned daily to produce 65,000 horsepower. A total of 13,000 men are working here now, where prior to the war 7,000 .were employed at the peak of pro­ duction. Today, almost one hundred per cent of the output is for war pur­ poses. In the foundry, 100 tons of steel, and 100 tons of pig iron are produced daily. The articles produced in the foundry are sent td the machine .shop, a hundred yards distant, by means- of an underground conveyor system. We now enter the machine shop, where there are 4,300 different mach­ ines, running at full blast, to turn out 2,250 complete motors- a week. Let us look for a minute at two of these machines. First, a multiple trimming machine, trims twelve engine blocks at both" ends, in one operation, to a uniformity of within one, one-thou­ sandth of an inch. The blocks are'fast­ ened to a huge revolving drum, and the cutting edges trim each block as it revolves, The seconcj machine is the multiple boring machine, which bores the 84 holes in an engine block, in one operation in six or seven seconds. When the engines are completed, they are transferred by a conveyor system to the plant housing the ve­ hicle assembly line. The military units pass down the assembly line, each part ready at hand on a moving conveyor line at the time scheduled. As the units move, the bodies are fastened on to the chassis, the fenders, doors, wheels, etc., ’put in place, until the unit comes to the last operation where a gallon of gasoline is poured into the tank, and the unit drives off the as­ sembly line under its own power. This one factory turns out 450 military vehicles each 24 hours. I think that the .two most interest­ ing types of military mechanized units are the Universal Carriers, and the four whe^l drive Artillery tractors. The Universal Carrier, formerly call­ ed the Bren Gun Carrier, is a low slung vehicle, propelled by means of tank-like treads. They are armoured against small arms, and can travel over extremely' rough country with great manoeuvrability and speed. The four-wheel drive Artillery Tractor, drives the front wheels as well as the rear. Should the front wheels become bogged down, the back wheels will push th^m out, and if the back wheels become bogged down, the front wheels will pull the back wheels out. The units can climb a grade as steep as 60 per cent. In other words, for every ten feet they travel forward, they are able to climb six feet. Motor Men Turn Out Guns. Let’s journey now, to another auto­ motive plant. Here we find an assemb­ ly line similar in principle to'the one just described. The same type of units are being produced as described in the previous plant, but with a smaller volume of production. When the government was faced with the necessity of producing field guns, and naval guns, it turned to the automotive industry for help. This factory undertook to direct operation • of a new armament plant that had just been built, and get it into pro­ duction. Today, field guns are rolling off an assembly line, for the first time in Canadian history, is producing heavy calibre field guns. All the genius and efficiency of this automotive fac­ tory has gone into the production of these guns. Another item that this plant is producing in quantity is mot­ ors, to be used in Britain to haul down the balloons in the barrages over land and sea. Over 3,000 motors for this purpose were delivered in the space of a few months. We have time for a hurried visit •to one more factory. This plant is also producing equipment similar to that in the other two plants. In addition to this however, a large newbuildihg is under construction, covering several acres, and will be into production in a few months with 2,700 men produc­ ing small arms, for the fighting forces. This plant has already produced a total of more than 112,000 motors., INFORMATION ABOUT INSURANCE PLAN Letters -of enquiry indicate that Regional Officials of the Unemploy­ ment Insurance Commission are en­ countering a good deal of misunder­ standing among workers and employ­ ers in regard to the proper functions of the workers’ insurance books and stamps; In an effort to clear up these dif­ ficulties, locally at least, Mr. R. N. Watt, Manager of the Employment and Claims Office gave the following statement to the Advance-Times. The insurance books and stamps provide a simple, inexpensive means of keeping records of contributions made to the insurance fund by both employers and workers. They are sup­ plied to employers by the Unemploy­ ment Insurance Commission and the stamps may be purchased from Post Offices by employers holding neces­ sary permits. Every worker, upon entering insur­ able employment is assigned an insur­ ance book by bis employer. This book will bear a serial number which will designate that worker throughout his working lifetime. The employer will detach the front cover from the book, fill in the information required and forward it to the Unemployment In­ surance Commission. The books are designed to cover a year’s records and are renewable only one a year. If one is lost or mislaid it may be replaced, upon the person responsible taking a declaration and paying a fee- of $1.00. It is important that this be done as soon as the loss is discovered. The books are not transferable. The stamps are issued in convenient denominations to cover the joint daily or weekly contributions of the employ­ er and the worker. The law requires the employer to affix in his workers’ books, the correct number of stamps, of the required denominations to cover their joint contributions every pay day. He will deduct the workers’ shares , from lheir wages. The books provide a simple, accurate record, which inspectors and workers alike may check easily and quickly. Should the worker be laid off, or for any reason quit his job, the em­ ployer is required to make his final entry of stamps and give the book to the worker without delay. The worker has the right to examine his book at intervals that are mutually convenient to himself and his. employer and he should check it carefully when quit­ ting his job. If the worker is going to a new job, he should deposit his book with his new employer at once and ■ the latter will continue the record of con­ tributions in the same book. An ein­ ployer should ndt issue a new book to a worker who has been in insured employment elsewhere. There are severe penalties provided for in the Act for any wilful or fraud­ ulent misuse of an insurance book. However, the regulations respecting the use of the books are easily fol­ lowed and if this is done the system will not be burdensome. TURNBERRY COUNCIL— The minutes of Council meeting held in Bluevale, Ontario, November 3rd, 1941. Members all present. Moved by Breckenridge and Moffatt that the minutes of last meeting be adopted as read. Carried. The following accounts were paid: Dept, of Municipal Affairs, Toronto; W. Bush, Wroxeter; F. Fox, Goder­ ich; Dr. Connell, Wingham. Moved by Wilton and Porter that the following ^by-law No. 8 be passed for ratepayers meeting to be held in Forester’s Hall, Bluevale, on Friday, November 28th, 1941, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Carried. The following accounts were paid: Sundry $377.96; Road Acct. .$281.55'. Moved by Porter and Breckenridge that we adjourn to meet at Bluevale on Monday, December 15th, at 11 o’clock, 1941. Carried. W. R. Cruikshank, pierk. R. Grain, Reeve. STABILIZATION OF PRICES AND Your Country asks your loyal support of this Wartime Measure TWO NEW CONTROLS have now become essential in Canada’s wartime design for living. These are: (1) Control of Prices Commencing November 17, 1941, there may be no increase in the prices of goods and services generally unless absolutely necessary and authorized by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. (2) Control of Wages No employer, with certain limited excep­ tions, may increase the basic wage rates paid to his employees unless authorized by a Board on which the Government, employers and employees are repre­ sented. But after February 15,1942, every employer with the same exceptions, will be obliged, to pay a cost of living bonus and to adjust this bonus every three months. Action Necessary to Stop inflation This Government action has been taken to prevent the inflation we knew in the last war, and its subsequent depression, unemployment and suffering. Every housewife knows that prices are rising, and rising prices, unless controlled, will make it more costly and difficult to finance the war. Rising prices, unchecked, will spread confusion in industry and trade; will hinder production and proper distribution of sup­ plies; will make the cost of living rise more rapidly than wages and salaries; will lessen the value of savings; will, result in hardship for almost everyone, and especially those with small incomes. And the result of uncontrolled inflation, after the war, when prices drop, will again be depression and unemployment. Prices cannot be controlled without control of w4ges. Excess profits are, and will con­ tinue to be, under rigid control. Coverage of Wages Stabilization Order The Order is applicable to the following employers: 1— Every employer normally subject to the Industrial Disputes Investigation Act. 2— Every employer engaged in the manufac­ ture of munitions of war, or war supplies, or the construction of defence projects. 3— Every building trades employer with ten or more employees. 4— Every other private employer with fifty or more employees. , The Order does not apply to employers in agriculture or fishing, or to hospitals, religi­ ous, charitable or educational associations operated on a non-profit basis. Wage Provisions Except on written permission of the National War Labour Board, no employer may increase his basic wage rates. This permission can only be given in cases where the Board has found the wage rates to be low. Wage rates which are unduly high will not have to be decreased, but in such cases the Board may order the employer to defer the cost of living bonus. Cost of Living Bonus Every employer covered by the. Order must pay to all his employees except those above the rank of foreman a wartime cost of living bonus. Effective November 15, each employer already paying a bonus under PC 7440 of December 16, 1940, shall add to such bonus an amount based on the pse in the cost of living index for October 1941, above the index number used to determine the current amount of the bonus. - ' Effective February 15, 1942, each employer who has not been paying a cost of living bonus must begin to pay a bonus based on the rise in the index between October, 1941, andjanuary, 1942,unless ordered by the Board to base the bonus on the rise in the cost of living over a longer period. The bonus is calculated on the following basis: For each rise of one point in the cost of living the amount of the bonus shall be 25 cents per week, except for male workers under 21 years of age and female workers, who, if employed at basic rates of less than $25.00 per week, shall receive a bonus of 1 percent of their basic wage rates. These bonuses will be adjusted regularly every three months. Administration W The Order will be administered by five regional Boards under the direction of a National War Labour Board. Labour and employers will be represented on each of these Boards. Watch for the announcement of these Boards to which inquiries concerning the application of the Order should be directed. WAVELL AND HIS FAMILY IN EGYPT rnmmandcr-in-clilef ot daughter. Miss Velocity Wavell. He has since bees WUsh&ls Ae Middle Bast, ta pictured In Egypt transferred to an Important territory further east, . frith hi* wife. Trf)dv Wovalk RTCSHT. And tnmr ililli FOOD SHORTAGE IN UNHAPPY GREECE (By a Special Correspondent) Sympathetic nc-utral witnesses who left Athens a month ago give a sombre picture of the Greek capital. The viva- The Advance-Times Phone 34, Issued under the authority of Hon. N. A. McLARTY, Minister of Labour Whole-Hearted Support Required Your Government knows that this policy, as it affects labour, industry, commerce, and agriculture, demands a degree of restriction to which Canadians are not accustomed, and is directly a wartime measure. It will demand self-discipline and self-control. It will need the whole-hearted support of everyone who has the well-being of his fellow citizens at heart. But by loyal co-operation, Canadians can have much more assurance that the fears, sense of insecurity, the suffering and profiteering which inflation always brings, will neither interfere now in the winning of this war, nor in the recovery and reconstruction of Canada and the Canadian way of living after the war is over. cious, elegant city wears now a lugu­ brious aspect. One sees Athens in a present condition of gloom, dilapida­ tion and depression. As soon as the Germans arrived they enforced the evacuation off all the wounded soldiers from the Ath­ enian hospitals in order to make room for their own wounded. The streets of Athens are now full of wounded Greek soldiers still bandaged and of- tc ii b c Q'QTiig* b rca The horrors of the German occupa­ tion arc aggravated by the humilia­ tion felt by tl)e Greeks in seeing de­ feated Italians replacing German troops, The former show an arrogant attitude, although they endeavour to show themselves more humane than the latter. Looting by the Germans, either openly or by means of spurious marks, was so complete that it left very little for their successors. Moreover, the Gestapo remains the supreme master and its exertions are the same as in every other German-occupied country. Some well-educated and cultured Greeks felt the Germany tyranny so cruelly that they have committed suicide. The food situation becomes daily worse and worse. Communications remain in their chaotic condition. The bridge across the Cornith Canal, des­ troyed during the campaign, has now been replaced by a temporary wooden bridge, Which, however, is such a weak structure that only the smallest locomotives with one or two carriages may pass across it. Railway communications beyond the pass of Themopylae continue to be disrupted. Thus, when the Internation­ al Red Cross decided to send supplies of concentrated food extracts for the use of the wounded of all armies in Greece, they were forced to send them by air mail, as they were unable to do so by rail. The port of Piraeus and the districts around have been heavily damaged Fy the explosion in the middle of the port of a ship loaded with munitions, ft was caused by a German raid last April. There was no direct hit on the ship, but on some barges loaded with oil, from which the resulting fire spread to the munitions ship. When the Gormans occupied Athens they compelled many Greek shipown­ ers living in Greece, although their ships were trading abroad, to tele­ graph their agents in America and elsewhere to withdraw their ships from the Allied service. These tele­ grams were communicated to the. Greek agents in New York by the German Consul General, through whom they were addressed to them. The Greek agents, of course, refused to comply with these evidently enemy-dictated orders. The Gestapo thereupon turned its wrath against the shipowners in Athens and compel­ led them to work in Piraeus to clean up the wreckage, demolish wrecked buildings, and sweep up the streets. Such men, old or young, not used to this work, were all included in this cruel, typically German order, which is still being applied by the Italians* MONUMENTS at first cost Having our factory equipped with the most modern machinery for the exe­ cution of high-class work, we ask you to see the largest display t of monu­ ments of any retail factory in Ontario. All finished by sand blast machines* We import all our granites from the Old Country quarries direct, in the rough. You can save all local deal­ ers’, agents’ and middleman profits by seeing us. E. X Skelton & Soil atWest End Bridge—WALKERTOH