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UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

 ACT, 1934


Copy of Draft Unemployment (Determination
 Assistance
of Need and Assessment of Needs) (Amendment) Regu-
lations, 1939, dated 5th December, 1939, made by the
Minister of Labour and National Service under Sections

38 (3) and
 52 (2) of the Unemployment Assistance Act,

 together with Explanatory Memorandum
1934, an




 Presented to Parliament by Command of His Majesty
 by the Minister of Labour and National Service




 LONDON

 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE

 To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses:
 York House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120 George Street, Edinburgh 2;
 26 York Street, Manchester
 1; 1
 St. Andrew’s
 Crescent, Cardiff;
 80 Chichester Street, Belfast;
 or through any bookseller


 *939
 Price 2 d. net


Cmd. 6143
 UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE


Draft Unemployment Assistance (Determination of Need
 and Assessment of Needs) (Amendment) Regulations,
 1939-



 The Minister of Labour and National Service by virtue of the
powers conferred on him by Sections 38 and 52 of the Unem-
ployment Assistance Act, 1934, the Minister of National Service
Order, 1939, and of all other powers in that behalf hereby
makes the following draft Regulations:

 UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ACT, 1934

 Draft Regulations.

 Whereas the Minister of Labour in pursuance of the powers
conferred on him by the Unemployment Assistance Act,
 1934,
(hereinafter referred the Act ”), duly made for the
 “
 to as


purposes of the Act the. Unemployment Assistance (Determin-
ation of Need and Assessment of Needs) Regulations, 1936,
(hereinafter referred the principal Regulations ”), and
 “
 to as

it is expedient to amend the said Regulations;
 And whereasby virtue of the provisions of the Minister of
National Service Order, 1939, the functions exercisable by the
Minister of Labour under the Act are now being exercised con-

currently by the Minister of National Service and the Minister
of Labour, and the Minister of National Service is authorised to
describe himself as the Minister of Labour and National
Service;

 And whereas by the said Order it is provided that so far
as
 may be necessary for such concurrent exercise any reference
to the Minister of Labour in
 any of the documents therein speci-
fied passed or made before the date of that Order shall be
construed as a reference to the Minister of Labour and National
Service;

 And whereas the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of
section 52 of the Act were duly complied with, and the Minister
of Labour and National Service (hereinafter referred to as
“
 the Minister ”) made and laid before Parliament draft

Regulations;
 And whereas each House of Parliament by resolution duly
approved the said draft Regulations;

 Now, therefore, the Minister by virtue of the powers con-

ferred on him by sections 36 and 52 of the Act and of all other
powers in that behalf hereby makes the following Regulations
in the terms of the draft so approved as aforesaid:

 Short title
 1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Unemploy-
 and com-
ment Assistance (Determination of Need and Assessment of
 mencement,

Needs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1939, and shall come into
force on the date hereof, and these Regulations and the Unem-
ployment Assistance (Determination of Need and Assessment of
Needs) Regulations, 1936, may be cited together as the Unem-
ployment Assistance (Determination of Need and Assessment
of Needs) Regulations, 1936 and 1939, and shall be construed
as one.

 (2) The Interpretation Act, 1889, applies to the interpreta-
tion of these Regulations as it applies to the interpretation of
an Act of Parliament.

 2. The
 following amendments shall be made to the principal Amend-

 ment of
Regulations and references therein to scale rates shall be
 “ ”



 First
construed accordingly: Schedule
 (1) Subject to the provisions ofRegulations the to the
 these
 weekly rates set out in sub-paragraph (1) of
 para- principal
 graph 1 of the First Schedule to the principal Regula- Regula-
 tions.
 tions shall be increased as follows:

 (a) the rate of
 245. appropriate to the householder
 and the householder's wife or husband shall
 be increased by two shillings;
 ( b ) the rates appropriate to the householder where
 the above rate is not applicable and other
 rates appropriate to
 persons of the age of
 sixteen years or over, that is to
 say all
 rates of less than
 245. and not less than Bs.
 shall be increased by one shilling;
 (c) rates appropriate to
 persons under the age of
 sixteen years including the minimum
 amount of allowed in respect of child
 4s. a

 where the household consists of only one

 child in addition to not more than two

 adults, that is to
 say all rates of 6s. or less,
 shall be increased by sixpence.

 (2) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (1) of this
 Regulation the rates set out in sub-paragraph (1) of
 paragraph 1 of the First Schedule to the principal
 Regulations and not the rates as so increased as

 aforesaid shall be used for the purpose of deter-

 mining—
 (a) whether under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 1
 of that Schedule
 any and if so what adjust-
 ment should be made in respect of the rent

 actually paid in any case; and
 (b) whether under the first proviso to Regulation
 IV of the principal Regulations any and if
 so what increase should be made in any
 case.


 (3) In paragraph 2 of the First Schedule to the principal
 Regulations the sum of 16s. 6d. shall be substituted
 for the sum of 15s. therein appearing.

Operation 3, Nothing in these Regulations shall prejudice or affect the
of Unem-
 operation of the Unemployment Assistance (Winter Adjust-
Assistance ments) Regulations, 1938.
(Winter

 Signed by Order of the Minister of Labour and National
ments)
Regula- Service this fifth day of December, 1939.
tions, 1938.
 T. W. Phillips,
 Secretary of the Ministry of
 Labour and National Service.
 UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ACT, 1934.

Draft Unemployment Assistance (Determination of Need
 and Assessment of Needs) (Amendment) Regulations,
 1939-

 Explanatory Memorandum.
 The accompanying draft Regulations amending those made
 1.

in 1936 for the purpose of section 38 (3) of the Unemployment
Assistance Act, 1934, are made by the Minister of Labour and
National Service in the terms of a draft submitted to him by
the Unemployment Assistance Board in accordance with sub-
section (2) of section 52 of that Act.

 In view of the extent to which conditions have changed since
the existing Regulations were made in 1936 and, in particular,
since the outbreak of war, the Board decided that the scales set
out in those Regulations, which form the basis on which their
allowances are calculated, should be increased.

 Persons entitled to
 an allowance from the Board by virtue of

the Regulations made under the Unemployment Assistance
(Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, for the relief of distress caused
by the war will be eligible for increases under the proposed
Regulations equally with those who satisfy the conditions set out
in section 36 of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1934.

 2. The draft contains three Regulations. Regulation 1 is
largely formal; it contains the citation and interpretation clauses
and provides that the Regulations as a whole are to come into
force on the day on which they are made.


 3. Regulation 2, which contains three paragraphs, is the

operative Regulation:

 (a) Paragraph (1) increases the rates for household cases

 set out inparagraph 1 of the First Schedule to the existing
 Regulations by is. in the case of persons of the age of 16
 years or over and by 6d. in the case of children under that

 age.
 For purposes of comparison the existing scale and the

 proposed new scale are set out below.

 Proposed
 Old Rate. Rate.
 A week. A week.
 For the householder and the householder’s
 wife or husband ... ...
 ...
 245. od. 265. od.
 For the householder (where the above

 rate is not applicable) :
 Male 16s. od. 17s. od.
 Female 15s. od. 16s. od.
 Proposed
 Old Rate. Rate.
 A week. A week.
For members of the household to whom
 the foregoing rates do not apply
 If aged 21 years or over :

 Male ... ... ... ... ... tos. od. ns. od.
 Female... ... ... ... ...
 gs. od. 10s. od.
 If aged t 6 years or over but less than

 21 years Bs. od. gs. od.
 If
 aged 14 years or over but less than
 16 years ...
 ...
 6s. od. 6s. 6d.
 If aged 1r years or over but less than

 14 years ...
 4s. 6d. ss. od.
 If aged 8 years or over but less than

 11 years ... ... ...
 ... 4s. od. 4s. 6d.
 If aged 5 years or over but less than
 8 years... 3s. 6d. od.
 ... ... ...
 ...
 4s.
 If under the age of 5 years ... ...
 3s. od. 3s. 6d.
Where the household consists of
 only one

 child in addition to not more than
 two adults, the amount allowed in

 respect of that child shall be not less

 than ... ... ... ... ... 4s. od. 4s. 6d.




 ( b ) Paragraph (2) of Regulation 2 contains two import-
ant provisions which have been inserted in order to secure

to applicants the full benefit of the increases made in the
scales by paragraph (1).


 (i) Sub-paragraph {a) deals with the subject of rent.
 Under the existing Regulations the rates set out in the
 scale include the allowance for rent where the rent

 actually paid does not exceed one
 quarter of the total
 of the scale rates for all the members of the household:
 if the rent exceeds that sum the allowance is increased

 and, in all but a small minority of cases in which the
 rent is regarded as excessive, the full amount of the
 difference is added. If the rent is less than one quarter
 of the total of the scale rates, the allowance may be
 reduced, but in practice the reduction is frequently
 waived or its extent modified under the various local
 rent rules
 based on recommendations made by the
 Board's Advisory Committees. Thus, if in the third
 example given in paragraph 7 the rent paid were
 15s.
 a week (which is ss. more than one quarter of the total

 of the scale rates, 405.), ss. would have been added to
 the allowance, making it 455. If the rent adjustment
 were in future to be calculated on the basis of the new

 rates (445.), the amount to be added in that case would
 be 4s. instead of ss. The applicant would thus be

 deprived by the operation of the rent rule of is. of the
 increase resulting from the additions made to the scales.
 It is to avoid such a result that paragraph (a) provides
 that rent adjustments shall continue to be calculated on

 the old rates.

 (li) Sub-paragraph (b) deals with the position under
 the first proviso to Regulation IV of the present Regu-
 lations. The general effect of this proviso is that, where
 in the case of a householder without resources which
 have been taken into account the allowance calculated
 in the normal way would be less than the Unemploy-
 ment Insurance benefit rate in force when those Regu-
 lations were made, the allowance is made up to that

 figure. Thus, the normal allowance for a man and
 wife without resources would be 245., but, as the appro-

 priate benefit rate in that case would be 265., an in-
 crease of 2s. would be made under this proviso and the
 allowance would be 265.
 Under the proposed Regulations, however, the
 normal allowance for a man and wife without resources

 and in the absence of any special circumstances will be
 265., and, as this is equal to the appropriate benefit
 rate, no addition would fall to be made under the
 proviso, unless special provision were made to deal
 with the point. The result would be that the man who
 had been getting 265. for himself and his wife under
 the present Regulations by virtue of the proviso would
 continue to get the same amount under the proposed

 Regulations. The provisions of paragraph (2) avoid
 this result and provide that the same increase as before
 shall be given under the proviso and the allowance in
 the mentioned will therefore be 285.; that is to say,
 case

 the applicant will get the full benefit of the increases
 given by the proposed Regulations.
 (c) Paragraph (3) of Regulation 2 increases the rate for
 living otherwise than in household
 a
 person a
 consisting
 of two or more
 persons (e.g., as a lodger or boarder) from
 15s. to 16s. 6d.

 4. The effect of Regulation 3 is that the increases resulting
from the proposed Regulations will be in addition to and not in
substitution for those made under the Winter Adjustments
Regulations.

 5- The general effect of Regulations made in the terms of the
present draft would, accordingly, be that, with the exception
of a small number of cases raising special considerations, all
existing allowances would be increased by sums, the amount of
which in an individual case would depend on the number and

ages of the persons in the household whose scale rates enter into
the calculation of the allowance.
 6. The additional cost of these increases will depend on the
number of people to whom allowances are for the time being
payable, but on the basis of the existing register of rather more

than 400,000 it would, it is estimated, be in the
 neighbourhood of
£2,500,000 per annum.



 7. The following examples illustrate the amount of the
increases in some typical cases; for the sake of the
 simplicity
figures do not include
 any additions which might be made under
the Winter Adjustments Regulations or to meet
 special circum-
stances.


 Proposed
 Old Rate. Rate.

 Family consisting of man and wile and
 three children aged io, 8 and having
 2,

 no resources and
 paying rent of Bs. gd. 355. od. 38s. 6d.
 A similar family in which the applicant
 has resources of which 16s. have been
 treated as available towards the needs

 of the household ... ... ...
 19s. od. 225. 6d.

 Family consisting of man and wife and
 two dependent daughters of 18 and 16
 with no resources and paying a rent
 of 10s. ...
 ... ... ... ...
 40s. od. 445. od.
 A similar family in which the applicant
 has resources of which 20s. have been
 treated as available ... ... ...
 20s. od. 245. od.



 8. The discretionary powers which form an important part
of the present Regulations, and, indeed, of the administration
of any service based on need, will not be affected by the pro-

posed Regulations, and will continue to be exercised as at
 wherever the special circumstances of the
present case so


require.
 .5/12/39. No. 1.




 FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE




 The following official communique was



issued from French GhHoQ* this morning:-




 "Patrol and artillery activity


 during the night on certain points of


 the front
EMPIRE AFFAIRS 5/12/39 No. 2.



 GERMAN AFRIKANERS DENOUNCE HITLER


 NO COMPROMISE WITH NAZI PAGANISM




 The German African Anti-Nazi Party, the formation of


 which in Johannesburg was announced a few days ago, has


 adopted as its main objects "the unrestricted fight against


 National Socialism" and support of General Smuts and the


 South African Government. Branches of the party have been


 formed in the larger centres of the Union.


 At the party’s inaugural meeting, the Chairman, Mr.



 W. Fischer, said: "We German Afrikaners draw a sharp line of



 demarcation between t"'is country which generously gave us




 hospitality, freedom and peace, and the tyrants of Nazi


 Germany. Their bloodstained hands are stretched out to


 this country and it would have been threatened by the fate



 of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland if General Smuts had


 not taken action.


 "We reject any compromise with Nazism or Bolshevism


 and have nothing in common with anyone whose loyalty to


 our new homeland is doubtful. We know that this struggle


 may last a long time, hut we are determined to exchange the


 weapon of the word for the sword when the hour arrives.

 The bulwark have erected Nazism is still hut
 we against small,

 it will become stronger from day to day.

 "In the Union there is sust as little place for the


 neo-paganism of Hitler, Goering and Co. as in any other


 freedom loving democracy,"
EMPIRE AFFAIRS 5/12/39. No. 3*


 “'PEACE RIVER"


 CZECH REFUGEES FIND A HAVEN IN CANADA*




 From northern Saskatchewan and Peace River,

British Columbia, comes by Transatlantic Clipper news of



300 Sudeten, and Czech families, refugees of Hitlerism,

who are adopting a new life in a new country.

 In the communities can be found doctors, lawyers,


journalists, factory workers, who with expert guidance and



modern tools to assist them, are learning to become farmers



on a 30,000 acre block of land» Colonization officers



selected families most likely to adapt themselves to this


entirely novel life, and these pioneers have agreed to remain


on the land for at least two years, after which tsme they

will assume the responsibility and ownership of their holdings


and will be self-supporting.,

 Besides working together to master the rudiments of



co-operative farming, the refugees have built accommodation


for themselves, their animals and crops, and have also erected


two schools, where they will learn the language of their new




continent this winter*


 The settlement has been financed by a grant from


the Anglo-French £lO million loan to Czechoslovakia at the


time of the Munich cris&s.
EMPIRE AFFAIRS 5/12/39. - No* 4.




 GERMAN'S TRIBUTE TO RHODESIAN INTERNMENT CAMP


 NAZI ALLEGATIONS BELIED.




 A German internee, Baron Verner von




Albensleben, who escaped with another man from the



Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, internment camp, paid a




warm tribute to the Rhodesian authorities in an interview


with a reporter in Portuguese East Africa.


 "My ', declared, "both desire
 s
 comrade and I he


to make It perfectly clear that we have nothing against


Rhodesia, the interment camp, or the Camp Commandant, who,


on the contrary, imdcn~-d±£ficult-conditions, did everything

possible to make the lives of the internees as pleasant as




can be expected".


 This impartial evidence is interesting in view


of the fact that articles have recently appeared in the


German Press alleging the ill-treatment of the Salisbury


Camp prisoners. It was stated, among other untruths, 'tha't


the interriecs. jwone--housed. without any


protection against heat or cold, and that for part of the


time they had been in Salisbury Gaol in,.the -company of



native prisoners.

 The facts are that for the first few days they


were indeed interned in an unused and specially cleaned


native block of Salisbury Prison, but they were soon as




possible transferred to a permanent camp where they are




accommodated in huts identical with those provided for the


troops. Married couples with children are given two or three



rooms. Medical services are provided and the education of


the children who have playground outside the is in
 a caflip

the hands of Rhodesian Government teachers.


 Parties of internees are taken to Salisbury


swimming pool once a week, and on Saturday afternoon they

are escorted to a Salisbury picture house.
 MINISTRY OF LABOUR


 Press Notice
 No. 5/5.12*39*




 The Ministry of Labour and National Service announces that the Baking
 Trade Board (Scotland) met in Glasgow on 22nd and 23rd November, 1939 under

 the Chairmanship of Mr. John Stewart, 8.L., and formulated their proposals as

 to minimum rates of wages to be payable to workers in the baking trade in

 Scotland.


 The Board decided to issue a Notice of Proposal to all employers in the

 trade in Scotland setting out the minimum rates of wages they propose to fix.

 This Notice will be issued during the next few weeks and every employer the in

 trade will bo under statutory obligation to exhibit the Notice in a prominent

 position in his bakehouse or other premises where he employs workers within the

 scoidc of the Board. The Notice will specify the period during which objections
 to the Board’s proposals may be lodged.

 The Board propose to fix separate scales of minimum rates for the five
 districts for which they had set up District Trade Committees. In the case

 of three districts, for the of the minimum rates for skilled male
 purpose
 workers, the Board have divided each district into three areas and they
 propose different minimum rates for each class of worker in each of these

 areas. For example, in the West Central district, one area comprises Glasgow,
 another all burghs other than Glasgow with a population of 3,000 or over and

 the third the remainder of the West Central District. In the case of the

 other two districts, the Board have divided each district into two areas for

 a similar purpose.


 Examples of the range of the proposed general minimum time rates "per week
 of 48 hours applicable to the principal classes of adult male workers in each

 district area are as follows:-



 North and West North Eastern East Central Southern West Central


Foremen bakers 72/6 and 77-6 75/- to 85-0 80/~ to 85-0 72/- to 85-0 7?/- to 87-6

Overmen 63/6 and 66-6 64/- to 71-0 63/6 to 70-0 65/- to 68-0 64-/- to 72-6


Doughmakers 62/6 and 65-6 62/- to 69-0 61/- to 67-6 64/- to 67-0 64/- to 70-6


Journeymen bakers6o/6 and 63-6 60/- to 66-0 61/- to 65-0 62/- to 65-0 62/- to 67-6


Workers in )
charge of fully )
automatic ) 52-0 58-0 58-0 52-0 52-0

wrapping and )
slicing machines)

Other male )
workers /



(excluding charge' 52-0 55-0 55-0 50-0 52-0

hands, clerks, )
st oremen and )
despatch workers))
 For jobbers, the Board propose an extra payment of l/- for each

 Saturday and 6d. for each other day, except those in the North Eastern District
 for whom they propose an extra payment of l/- for each day including Saturday.
 Samples of the general minimum time rates per week of 48 hours

 proposed for adult female workers to apply to the whole of each district are

 as follows



 North and West North Eastern East Central Southern West Central

Confectioners etc. 40.0 37,0 42.0 36.0 -




Workers wholly or
 )
mainly employed in
 )
baking oatcakes 36-0
 etc.)
 - - -




and in certain other)
confectionery v/ork. )
Forewomen over such
 42 -0 50-0 40-0 40-0
workers.
 )

Other female workers)
 ixcent certain )
 32 0 32 -° 37 '° 33 -° 34'°
 forewomen)
 ‘



classes of

and charge hands.) )

 For casual workers in the North and West, East Central and Southern,
 districts, the Board propose an extra payment of 6d. for each Saturday and

 3d. for each other day, and in the West Central district, l/- for each

 Saturday and 6d. for each other day.


 The districts to which the minimum rates proposed by the Board will

 relate are as follows


 1. North and West. That portion of Inverness-shire lying north of the

 Caledonian Canal, together with tne Counties of

 Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and

 Cromarty, Argyll and Bute.



 North Eastern. That the town
 2. portion of Inverness-shire, including
 of Inverness, lying south of the Caledonian Canal,

 together with the Counties of Nairn, Moray, Banff,
 Aberdeen and Kincardine.


 3. East Central. The Counties of
 Angus, Perth, Fife, Kinross,"
 Clackmannan and Stirling.



 4. Southern. The Counties of Midlothian, East and West Lothian,
 Peebles, Selkirk, Roxburgh, Berwick, Wigtown,
 Kirkcudbright and Dumfries.


 5. West Central. The Counties of
 Lanark, Renfrew, Dumbarton and Ayr.




 Press Office,
 Ministry of Labour and National Service,

 Montagu House, Whitehall, S.W.I.




 Telephone: Whitehall 6200.
 5th December,i 1939.
 —
 M.A.F.110.




 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCEMENT.




 WINTER CENSUS OF LIVESTOCK.




 The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has


issued a questionnaire to all farmers requesting information


as to the livestock, acreage under certain crops, and stocks



of certain feeding stuffs on their holdings on 4th December.



The questionnaire is issued under the Agricultural


Returns Order made under the Defence Regulations, and its
 t




completion is compulsory. The Form is to be returned not


later than 19th December.


 The information ashed for will be of the utmost



value to the Ministry in assessing existing and prospective


conditions on farms, and it will be of the greatest


assistance to the Department if farmers will return the



questionnaire sent to them as quickly as possible to the


address given on the Form.
 STH DECEMBER, 1959, N0.7,


 MIKISTRY 0F AGRICULTURE WEEKLY NEWS SERVICE NO, 13.




 BRITAIN RETURNS TO THE PLOUGH.


 Farmers Respond In Spite Of Difficulties.



 In spite of difficulties, farmers are responding to


 best their ability in their task of
the of ploughing an




additional 1,500,000 acres for next harvest. Good progress


is being made, although the effort is being demanded from

an industry that has been facing many years of depression

and whose financial resources were well-nigh exhausted at


the outbreak of war. The war has already imposed on them


increased costs.


 It is therefore a great achievement that a number of


counties already have In the initial of
 prospect quota extra


arable acres for which Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith appealed.

This is a tribute alike to the farmers* patriotism and to


their trust in the undertaking that the country will see



that they shall not suffer by what they are now doing to


consolidate the ’’food front’*.



Invidious Comparisons.


 It would be unfair, at this early stage, to compare

the in the different counties that has been
 acreage promised

for additional ploughing. Each county has been given

its task, but it cannot be pretended that it is uniform for


all the counties of and
 with their varying conditions soils


farming practice.

 It Is urgently hoped, that not one favourable


 hay will be lost In
 speeding the plough. But any


 county that i-s behind-hand on account of


 weather conditions may take heart from the



 knowledge that there will still be time to make up


 leeway in the spring.

 The fact that when the farmer has done his ploughing

he is still faced with-, the heavier cost cf cropping
the land only emphasises the fundamental importance of the



Government’s policy of ensuring to the producer remunerative



prices. The addition of 4/6d, per quarter for wheat and 3/- per


quarter for oats grown under the peacetime conditions of 1935/39

may be regarded as a token of the Government’s good faith.

 The vast majority of farmers, it seems, are interpreting

it in that way, for their voluntary response has been universal


and very few compulsory orders have had to be served. County

Committees and their hard-worked staffs are everywhere attacking

the problem with immense vigour. This campaign, unprecedented

in our history, to plough 1,500,000 additional acres in a




single season, is moving steadily towards fruition. Yeoman



England is once again playing its part*


Plough for Milk


 These extra acres are essential in the national


interest. But it is no less essential in the stock-keeperfe own



interest that he should be as independent as possible of arrivals



of feeding stuffs from abroad c Therefore, although he may have


fulfilled the ploughing up requirements of his County Committee,

it should be no bar to his ploughing up even more land, if he


has the opportunity, to feed his own stock.


 With, this end in view County Committees are now




authorised to give increased freedom of cropping to applicants

for the £2 per acre ploughing-up grant, and to encourage the



growing not only of oats and harley for feeding hut also rape,


kale, roots and all fodder crops« At the beginning of the



campaign it was desirable to ensure that an increase in the



acreage of certain approved crops was secured: now every farmer


should in addition strive to return to the practice of his


fathers to make his farm as far as possible self-supporting.

 Hand in hand with increased production of arable crops


must go improvement of the remaining grassland so that it may



produce grass food for the maximum number of stock.
 CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK MARKETING.

 FREE MARKET FOR FAT STOCK


 Control JPo stponed until early next Year




 Arrangements for the control of livestock marketing,


including the purchase of the stock by the Ministry of Food,

and for controlling the distribution of home-killed meat have


been under close examination, and certain adjustments are



being made which will take some weeks to complete. As, moreover




the Government do not consider it desirable to introduce control


during the period of the Christmas trade, it is proposed to


postpone the introduction of control until the New Year.



 The Government has recognised that the present


system of partial control under the Maximum Prices Orders,


(which was only designed as an interim measure,) was giving rise

to increasing difficulties in the marketing of fat stock. In


these circumstances, and having regard to the adequate supplies


of fresh meat which are expected to be available over the



Christmas season, the restrictions on marketing and the control


of prices of fatstock, including pigs, were removed as from



Friday, December Ist. until the date on which full control is


established. This will be announced in due course. The


decision applies to all prices, both wholesale and retail.



Before full control is introduced appropriate adjustments in


the schedule of initial prices to be paid for fat stock, as




published three weeks ago will be made after consultation with


producers’ organisations. The revised schedule will take


account of seasonal trends and other relevant factors.




 INCREASING THE WHEAT YIELD.


 Early Versus late Top Dressing.

 It is sometimes thought essential to top-dress

cereals in February/March. This is still one of the most


certain ways of increasing a late and backward crop
 -
nitrogenous fertiliser applied at this time increases the number


of tillers? end it must often be done if full is to be
 a crop


obtained.


 This fact* however? leads to another aspect of the


matter. When a
 crop is already well tillered}? the greatest

increase in the yield is often obtained later
 by a dressing*


say between mid-April, and mid-May. Fertilisers applied at


this time increase the yield of corn without increasing the


number of This is
 tillers. an advantage? since excessive


increase in the number tf tillers on each plant tends to more




and weaker stem with little increase in yield.




 IF THE LAND NEEDS DRAINING


 County War Committees and Drainage Grants.



 In some respects land drainage has an added importance

at the present time. It is now essential tc bring all suitable


land into use for food production? and fertility schemes are




merely a waste of money on land that badly needs draining. On


the other hand the need for economy? both in money and men? makes


it desirable to postpone or curtail some improvement schemes


of a long term nature.



 The Minister of Agriculture’s view is that it is


desirable to proceed with work that will maintain or substantially


improve the productivity of considerable areas of land within


a reasonable time, "Reasonable time" should be interpreted in


the light of te Government’s decision to for three
 prepare a




years’ war*



 To avoid overlapping and confusion* the County War


Agricultural Committees have heen advised of the powers that



Drainage Authorities already possess and are recommended to



consult with these authorities where land drainage is



contemplated for furthering food production. The fullest use




should he made of the grants available for land drainage.

County Committees have powers to require occupiers of


agricultural land to deal with their watercourses from the point
of view of increasing food production,, But in districts where

 is the responsible authority, it will probably
a Drainage Board


be most convenient for any considerable work of improvement to


be carried out by the Board in consultation with the Committee.


In districts where there is no Drainage Board, the County or




 Council would normally be the authority to undertake
Borough

the work, which would generally be eligible for a grant under



the 1937 Agriculture Act.


 The Minister of Agriculture, Sir Reginald Dorman-


Smith, appreciates that in war conditions it may be difficult



for Councils to undertake any considerable amount of drainage


work. So he has suggested that Councils may consider the



desirability of inviting the appropriate County Committee to



prepare schemes that would be formally submitted by the Council


for grant under the Act.




 PIG CLUBS.


 Response Already Encouraging.



 T
 Although the newly formed Small Pig Keepers Council


has hardly had time to begin work, it has already received

several hundreds of letters at its headquarters at Victoria


House, Southampton Row, W.C.1., from people anxious to lend a




hand in increasing our supplies of pig meat.


 Particularly gratifying is the fact that enquiries

have come from all classes of the community. Farmers and farm


workers, wealthy suburban residents, miners from the Welsh


valleys, large country houses, tenants of small urban houses


and innkeepers all figures on the list. Some are already

members of pig clubs and would like to see their clubs expand;

others want to form a pig club; others desire to know how to go


to work to keep a pig or two at the bottom of the garden or




in some outbuildings.


 This is exactly as it shonla be Such movements
 from local enthusiasun, and
flourish best when they spring up


 the will do everything possible to encourage
although S.P.K.C.


this spirit to spread, it aims at no "rantin’ tantin’" campaign

 all who want
to make 'everyone pig conscious. In the meantime


 club keeping pig invited
advice or help in starting a or a are




to apply to the Council.


 Local authorities are also playing their part in



 pig and poultry keeping by their tenants
relaxing restrictions on




in Council Houses. The Borough of Beccles, for instance, that



 forbade their tenants to keep either pigs hens has
formerly or




now lifted the ban,




 EXEMPTION FROM WAR RISER INSURANCE.



 The Board of Trade has issued an Order which excludes


from the scope of the War Risks Insurance Act a number of



agricultural products while still on the farm. A previous Order

had exempted the great bull' of these products, when so situated,

from the operation of the scheme; but a few, including milk,


butter, cheese, eggs and wool, remained insurable. The


insurance of these was compulsory if their total value at



any time amounted to more than £l,OOO, but this figure was



rarely, if ever, exceeded, and insurance consequently remained


voluntary. Farmers have not, in fact, availed themselves of the


facilities, and it has been considered unnecessary to retain any


distinction in regard to different classes of agricultural produce

 The effect of the amended Order will be, therefore, that


no agricultural products of any kind, produced on the farm, will,

while still on the farm, he insurable under the Government scheme


either compulsorily or voluntarily.
 5/12/39. _
 No,_ J3.

 BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT.


 EAR RISKS INSURANCE.


 COMMODITY INSURANCE SCHEME.


 Modification of Provisions relating to_ exclusion

 of certain goods from insurance.




 Following representations made to them by responsible bodies, the

Board of Trade have made two further Orders under the War Risks Insurance Act,
1939, The first Order makes certain amendments in the War Risks Insurance

(General Exceptions) Order made on the 22nd September, viz;-



 (a) For the first item in the Schedule to the Order relating to agriculture,
there is substituted the following amended definition;-


 "Growing crops, plants and trees, livestock, and, in relation to a


 person carrying on the business of producing agricultural products, the

 following goods produced by that person when on land occupied by him in
 the course of business, that is to say, agricultural products and
 that

 articles of food and drink wholly or partly manufactured or derived from

 any such product and fleeces and the skins of animals,”


 (b) The effect of the terms of item 7 of the Schedule was to make mica

uninsurable. The new order specifically makes mica insurable.


 (c) In item 10 of the Schedule, which relates to iron and steel of certain

descriptions, for the words "structural work including bridge, pier, tank and

plate work whilst at Producers
 1
 works" there are substituted the words

"assemblies cf plates and sectional materials as component parts of structures".


 It is further provided that no Order directing that goods of any

description shall be deemed not to be goods insurable under Part II shall, in

relation to any person carrying on a business in the course of which he

constructs or repairs ships or propelling machinery for ships, have effect in
relation to any goods appropriated for the construction or repair of any
particular ship or part of such ship.

 The second Order excludes from insurance under Part II of the Act the

following descriptions of goods


 (l) Slates for dampcourses and sldte slabs


 (2) Concrete products of all descriptions.


 (3) The following manufactures of stone;-
 Pavement kerbs and setts; channels, slabs and flags;
 and manufactured stone for building purposes.



 (4) Spent oxide of iron.


 (5) The following compounds of radium of a concentration exceeding
 ten per cent; -




 bromide, carbonate, chloride and sulphate.

 (6) Ores, concentrates, mattes, drosses and residues of gold,
 silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium and
 ruthenium.
 (7) Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium

 and ruthenium, and alloys thereof, in sheet or tube; and

 ply-metal in the form of sheet, tube or wire of which any
 of trie said metals or
 any alloy thereof is a component.


 (8) Nickel, unwrought, in ail forms.


 (9) Printing machinery of the following descriptions;-
 Typesetting, letter press (including rotary and flat
 bed),
 lithographic, photogravure and stereotyping.

 (10) Recovered sewage grease and sewage sludge.



Mote in regard to Agriculture.


 'The original Order exempted the great bulk of agricultural products from
the operation of the scheme while on the farm, but a few products, e.g. milk,
butter, cheese, eggs, still remained insurable while so situated. In these
cases the value of the stock rarely, if ever, exceeded £l,OOO, and insurance

consequently remained voluntary. Farmers have not, in fact, availed
themselves of the facilities, and it has been considered unnecessary to retain

any distinction in regard to insurability for different classes of agricultural
produce while on the farm. The effect ofthe amended Order is entirely to

remove such produce from the scope of the commodity insurance scheme.




Board of Trade.


 5th December, 1959.
MINISTRY OP SHIPPING 5/12/39 NO. 9




 THE KING HONOURS THE MERCHANT NAVY


 SIR JOHN GILMOUR’S ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARLIAMENT




 Sir John Gilmour in reply to a question asked in Parliament


yesterday, said that His Majesty the King had been graciously


pleased to approve of the issue of a badge to the officers and


men of the Merchant Navy.

 This announcement has been received with great pleasure by


the members of the Merchant Service who have expressed through

their representatives their keen appreciation of the design of


the badge. The badge will be distributed to the officers and



men as and when they engage for service on and after the


Ist January next.

 Men who have been disabled, at sea since the beginning of


the war and who are unable to sign on again will be entitled to


the badge. The badge will also be issued to officers and men




of our Deep Sea Pishing Fleets.

 We are privileged to "be able to reproduce in our columns a




photograph of the badge, which will be worn in the buttonhole.
 5/12/39 - No. 10.




 PRESS NOTICE




 Captain H. L. UPTON, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R., has


"been appointed a Royal Naval Reserve Aide-de-Camp

to H.M. The King from the 25th October, 1939 in


succession to Captain R. G. CLAYTON, D.S.C., R.D.,


R.N.R., who has been placed on the retired list.




AdMIRALTY,
 S.W.1.
EMPIRE AFFAIRS 5/12/39 -
 No 11




 WORK OF THE CANADIAN ROYAL NAVY


 PROTECTION OF COASTS AND OF SHIPPING




 A vivid picture of the tasks of the Canadian Royal Navy has

been given in a broadcast talk by a spokesman of the Department

of National Defence, Ottawa.


 He spoke of the work of the Canadian destroyers, nov/ six in



number, which, cutting through the water at 36 knots, and armed


with 4*7 guns, torpedoes, and depthcharges, are the nightmare

of the marauding submarine.


 While admitting that there had been apparent
 no
 enemy

submarine activity the side of the
 on Canadian Atlantic, this


spokesman recalled that in the last war, during the two years


October, 1916 to November 1918, twenty-six merchant vessels


were sunk within 300 miles of the Canadian coast-line. Moreover,


78 vessels owned or registered in 'Canada were sunk in 1914-


1918, a proportion of 1.5/2 of the thirteen millions of tonnage

sunk -during those years.


 Nothing like this, declared the spokesman, would happen


again, for the methods of detecting and destroying submarines


had improved beyond all measure during the past twenty years.


 The task of the Royal Canadian Navy, he continued, was



a two-fold one; it was responsible, in co-operation with the



Army and the Air Force, for the protection of Canada’s coasts,


and it had to protect shipping from the hazards of enemy


action, the Royal Canadian Air Force co-operating in this


latter duty.


 Turning to the possibility of enemy activity against


Canada, this spokesman suggested that it would he directed against

the larger ports, particularly those which were important centres

of tradeo Such centres had therefore been constituted as

Defended Ports* Coast Defence batteries had been placed in

strategic positions, and a system of Coast Defence Searchlights
had been installed. Those steps had been taken by the Army.


 / What the Navy
 What the Navy were doing was, where conditions


permitted, to place in position an anti-submarine boom and



anti-torpedo nets, to keep the ship-channels swept clear of



mines, and to institute anti-submarine patrols in the vicinity

of the harbour-mouth, and, by means of an Examination


Service, to control merchant traffic in and out of the


harbour.



 For these varied purposes more ships obviously

were required than were normally in commission in the


R.C.iT. In addition to their 6 destroyers and 5 mine-


sweepers, therefore, some 40 additional vessels had been


taken up. During the last war, a total of 242 vessels



had been either chartered or requisitioned 100 drifters,


36 trawlers, the remaining 106 being vessels of various



sizes.


 As the need for vessels grew, so did the demand


for men* Before the war there were some 1,700 officers

and Lien in tne R. C.N. That number had already been more



than doubled.


 The spokesman concluded by emphasising that

the Royal Canadian Navy was in every respect Canada's own


Navy the officers and the men being 100% Canadians. But

the N.C.N. in its
 was
 organisation, armament and training,
built on the lines the
 same as Royal Navy, and thus could


take its place alongside the other Navies of the British

Commonwealth. It was prepared for any, whether defensive, or


ofiensive, call that might be made on it.
 5/12/39 No. 12.




 NO PERMANENT COMMISSIONS IN INDIAN ARMY.




 As the number of officers, British and Indian, which


will be required for the Indian Army after the war cannot


be foreseen, the Government of India have decided that no




permanent commissions will be given except to those cadets


now at the Indian Military Academy and those successful in


the recent competitive examination and due to join as cadets


in January next.

 Cadets who join the Indian Military Academy after

that date and all other for the
 officers required Indian Army,

British and Indian, will receive emergency commissions for the


duration of the war, At the conclusion of hostilities, those


who desire to make the Army their career will he eligible to


be considered for the grant of permanent commissions.




INDIA OFFICE
 5/12/39 No. 13.


 ENEMY ALIENS IN INDIA.




 The Committee set up to investigate the cases of refugees

from Germany and Austria, with a view to their release where


possible, has now examined practically all cases of genuine


refugees and some others, and has ordered the release of 309


refugees and 19 others, including four missionaries.

 It has now been decided that this Committee shall



investigate the cases of all other internees with a view to



deciding in each case whether or not the individual can he



released from internment and allowed to remain at liberty in
 5




or to depart from, India, Meanwhile, although male enemy


subjects must obtain the permission of the Central Government,

there is no restriction upon the voluntary departure of women




and children, who have only to notify their intention to the



Registration Officer


 No enemy subject will be allowed to take out of India



any gold or property other than personal luggage or any cash or




negotiable instruments exceeding R5,1500, 1500 in value* It is also


prohibited to take out of India certain prescribed documents and



other articles.




INDIA OFFICE
FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST. 5/12/39 -
 No. 14.




 PRESS NOTICE.



 The King has "been pleased to approve the


appointment of the Reverend Grotius Alexander James, Rector


of Courteenhall, Northampton, to the Rectory of St. Michael


in the Vale, Guernsey, in the place of the Reverend Frederick


William Stamp le Lievre, who has resigned.




HOME OFFICE.
MILITARY AFFAIRE 5/12/39 -
 No 15


Please do not quote War
Office as official source.




 OUR MUNITIONS EFFORT




 An idea of the momentum which the munitions effort


of Great Britain is attaining within the United Kingdom can



be gained from the fact that the production of ammunition of


all sorts has been doubled during the past six months. Plans


are now being executed which will double this new output during

the coming six months, and thus at the end of twelve months


the initial output will have been quadrupled.

 This has been made possible by an increase in both


Government and private factories. Government factories have


been already increased to six times the number as compared


with two years and next year will be increased to
 ago, ,




eight times the original number. Certain commercial concerns



have created new factories while others have doubled the size of



their peace time munitions producing plant. Commercial


expansion has not been as rapid as that of Government


establishments, but there are almost as many civil as Government


 and the number of the former
munitions factories, by next year,


may well exceed the latter.


 One Government factory has produced its first gun


in just over a year from the commencing day of the building

 of the this is of
 factory, and typical of the rapidity


 production, of which this community is capable.




 WAR OFFICE.
MINISTRY OF FOOD ANNOUNCEMENT 5/12/39 No»16



 FOOD MINISTER' S VISIT.




 Mr. W.S. Morrison, the Minister of Pood, visited a




British Port today to witness for himself some of the


distribution arrangements resulting from the safe arrival


of food ships from countries abroad.


 He millions of and thousands of carcases of
 saw eggs

mutton and lamb being unloaded for despatch for the fighting

services and to the home front and chatted with several of the


men engaged on the work.


 Asked if there was any shortage of meat he explained that


the arrivals of imported meat were at present above pre-war


level hut as supplies to the Services must come first some



shortage of supplies to the public must be expected,


 The rationing of "bacon and butter, he said, was part

of the civilian contribution to our war effort* To reduce


our demand for these commodities would release ships for the



transport of war materials and the f which, would


he necessary to pay for them*
 5/12/39 N 0.17,



 STATEMENT FOR PUBLICATION



 The Ministry of Economic Warfare is now extending the


operation of the "Navicert" system, which has been available


since December Ist for exports from the United States of



America to certain European neutral countries. Henceforth


Navicerts will also be issued in respect of shipments from



Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to Iceland, Norway, Denmark,


Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands,


Belgium and Italy,


 Shippers in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, who desire



to avail themselves of the advantages of navicerts should


furnish His Majesty’s Representatives with details of the


goods they propose to export, their nature and quantity,


country of destination, name and address of consignee, and,

as soon as possible, name of the vessel in which the goods •




are to he shipped and date of shipment. Application forms


are available at His Majesty’s Embassies at Rio de Janeiro


and Buenos Aires, H,M, Legation at Montevideo and H.M,


Consulates in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and should he


returned to them when completed.




Press Section,
Ministry of Economic Warfare,
 5/12/39. No. 19.




 BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT,




 DRIED FRUIT.




 The Board of Trade regret that some inconvenience
 has been caused to exporters by the inadvertent inclusion
 of the words "fruit (dried)" in the notice which they
 issued on 14th November regarding the foodstuffs of which
 the export was freed from the requirement of export
 licences on 15th November. Under the Amending Order which
 into force that the export of fruit dried
 came on
 day, or

 otherwise preserved without sugar to any destination
 remained subject to export licence.




Board of Trade,

 5th December, 1939.
 5.12.39. No. 20..




 BOARD OF TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT.




 Arising out of the letter, dated 22nd November,
 from the President of the Board of Trade to
 Sir Frederick Whyte, in which the President requested
 the Cinematograph Films Council to direct their
 immediate attention to new measures designed to meet
 the war-time requirements of the British film industry,
 the Council today appointed a Committee to expedite
 action in this direction. The Committee will consist
 of the following members


 Sir Frederick Whyte (Chariman)
 Professor Arnold Plant
 Mr. D.E. Griffiths

 Captain the Honourable R. Norton

 Mr. A.W. Jarratt
 Mr. G. H. Elvin.

 A further member with financial and economic

 experience will be appointed.




Board of Trade,

 5th December, 1939.
 MINISTRY OF SUPPLY DISPLAYS.


 Sample Munition Stores.



 Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Supply, to-day
opened the London display of munition stores which the
Ministry has arranged to assist its contractors and firms who
are willing to undertake Ministry of Supply contracts.
The London display is at Savoy Hill House, VAC. 2.



 Representatives of no re than 4,000 firms have

already visited Ministry of Supply sample rooms at various
centres throughout the country. Arrangements have been
made for several thousand firms to inspect the
 more samples.
In addition to the display at Savoy Hill House others are

now open at :




 King Edward House, Sherwood Buildings,
 New Street, Sherwood Street

 Birmingham, Nottingham.

 11 Piccadilly, 32 Baldwin Street
 Manchester. Bristol,


 141 Bath Street, 41 Sidney
 ,
 Street

 Glasgow C. 2. Cambridge.


 Queens Buildings, 4 St. Nicholas Buildings,
 Queens Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
 Sheffield.



Representative selections of stores have also heen shown at

Reading and Tunbridge Wells.


 In addition to the sample rooms of munition stores,

pattern rooms for clothing and general stores have heen
opened at the following addresses:

 London R.A. O.C. Depot,. Greenford (shortly to he

 moved to a joint Pattern Room with
 Admiralty at Penfold St., Paddington).

 Birmingham King Edward House, New Street-



 Glasgow 65, Renfield Street. G.2.



 Leeds 9 Park Place.
 ?




 Belfast 7? Donegall Square West.



 Bristol Royal London House, Queen Charlotte Street.



 Manchester Whitworth House, 115 Princess Street.



 Sheffield Parade Chambers, East Parade.



 Wolverhampton 3- Queen’s Street.



 Displays of stores are proving useful to "both firms
at present engaged in work for the Ministry of Supply and to
others who have felt that they might undertake contracts.
Information is given to guide firms desiring to tender.

Offers to supply the goods required are dealt with “by the

Contracts Department of the Ministry of Supply.
 Among the varied munition stores are : small bombs,
fuses, primers, tracers, ammunition boxes cordite drums,
metal,, cardboard and wooden containers, bandoliers,
ammunition belts, clips, grenades, metal letters and numerals,
webbing, bags, tank spares, and searchlight parts.


 Firms desiring to see samples should write in the
first instance to the Ministry of Supply Area Officer at one
of the addresses given, who will issue cards of admission.




Ministry of Supply,
Press Office,
5.12.39.
 The War Office,


 London,S.W,l,

 5th December, 1939.




 ROYAL CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR ARMY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE.




 The War Office and Air Ministry announce that Their


Majesties the King and Queen have decided to send a Christmas


card this year to all members of the Army and Royal Air Force


serving in France. A similar card will also be issued to all


sick and wounded men in France, and to those in hospital in


the United Kingdom who have served in France, to all members of



flying crews serving in operational commands (i.e. Bomber,


Fighter and Coastal) at home, and to British personnel serving

with various missions.



 The cards will he issued to units through the normal



supply arrangements in time for their distribution on 25th


December. -
EMPIRE AFFAIRS. 5.12.39 N 0.23.



 CAnADA IS MORE READY THAN IN 1914.



 "Now the wild forces of passion and the lust for


conquest and the imposition of a hateful creed and an alien


system of life are loose in the world again, and we must


meet the challenge".


 That Canada would meet this challenge with as much


determination and with greater resources than in 1914 was the


prophesy of Major-General A.G.L.McNaughton, G.O.C. when laying

the foundation stone of the Sir Arthur Currie Gymnasium and


Armoury, which commemorates Canada’s famous Corps Commander


in the last war, at McGill University, Montreal.


 "Our industries,
 ,f
 he said "are many fold greater

and more diversified than they were in 1914, and so we should


have less difficulty in providing our weapons and war



equipment. Our population is greater; we have had the


benefit of the training given us by war experienced officers


and many of these are available to help both in the field



and, equally importantly, in the great tasks which must be


carried out at home."


 "So my message to you to-day is one of quiet


confidence. Our cause is just; it is necessary to defend


it by force of arms. Our resources are greater and our




Allies, tried and true.
AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. 5,12,39 N0.24.


 THE KING AND THE NATIONAL PIGEON SERVICE.


The Air Ministry announces



 His Majesty The King has accepted the badge of the
National Pigeon Service which was recently established under
the direction of the Air Ministry to enable the defence
Services to make full use of the homing pigeon as a means of
communication in peace and war. The badge to which all members
of the National Pigeon Service are entitled is enamelled in
blue and surmounted by a gilt crown. t shows a pigeon at
rest and bears the inscription ’’NATIONAL PIGEON SERVICE,"


 His Majesty takes a keen interest in the work of the

Service and from the Royal Loft at Sandringham the King’s
birds are daily sent out on war service. Important messages
have already been received by their aid. A short while ago
a British pilot flying off the coast found himself running
short of petrol. He released one of his pigeons which flew
to the Royal Loft at Sandringham with a message. This was

duly telephoned to the pilot’s base where arrangements were
made at once to go to his assistance. The pilot managed to
reach his aerodrome, but if as had seemed likely he had come
down in the sea the pigeon might well have saved his life and
the aircraft as well.


 The King has asked that a fortnightly report on

the activities of his birds should be submitted to him.


 Each member of the National Pigeon Service contracts
to loan his birds for war work. The scheme is purely
voluntary, but a grant of £5 a year is made by the Air Ministry
to all fanciers in cases where ten or more of their birds

are actually employed. There are already some 15>000 members,
and the number of
 pigeons available for active service is
approximately 750,000. More members are required and pigeon
fanciers who are interested in this scheme should communicate
with



 Mr. J. Selby Thomas,
 22, Clarence Street,

 Gloucester


who is the Secretary of the National 'Pigeon Service
Committee.
FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST. 5/12/39 N0.25.



 HOME OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT.




 Sir John Anderson, the Home Secretary, saw at the


Home Office to-day a deputation consisting of Mr. Rhys Davies,

Mr. Banfield and other members of Parliament, on the subject

of night baking. They urged that night baking should be


prohibited in view in particular of deterioration of working


conditions in bakehouses in consequence of black-out



arrangements. The Home Secretary explained that prohibition,

could not be achieved without legislation which would undoubtedly

be controversial, and that so far as black-out arrangements


were concerned, be could not accept the position that these


could not be achieved without creating unhealthy working


conditions. He promised to take special steps through the


factory department of the Home Office to see that the ventilation


in bakehouses was improved where necessary.
NO. 10 x THE TERRITORIAL ARMY.




In the House of Commons of Tuesday.



Sir Robert Tasker asked the Secretary of State for if, in
 War,

view of the wide-spread idea that the Territorial Army ended with

the outbreak of war, he will issue statement the
 a on present

position of the Territorial Army; and if instructions have been


issued that the letter T is to be removed from the uniform worn




T»y members of the Territorial Army.




Mr. Hore-Belisha in a written reply states:- I am gald to have

the opportunity of dispelling a misconception. The Territorial



Army did not end at the outbreak of war. On the contrary, in


accordance with the intention announced some
 years ago, all


expansion since the war has been based on the Territorial Army.


Men who, since the outbreak of war, have volunteered for service for


the duration of the war have been enlisted into the Territorial



Army, while every man called un for military service under the



National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, has Tseen deemed to have



enlisted in the Territorial Army.


 Tier,, the Territorial Army does exist, hut, in the



 necessities whole of the must
operational of war, - the Forces



constitute one Army in which each individual is placed where his



attainments of greatest use to the nation. For this reason




and to avoid /hvious outward distinction in the Field, it was



 !f
decided to svspend, during war, the wearing of the letter "T .
No, -33 a
 ARMY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION.

In the. House of Commons on Tuesday.



Brigadier Sir Ernest Makirs asked the Secretary of State


for ear, whet hr he re. lises the disappointment of candidates who


were at school working for the November Army entrance examination,

which has now been cancelled: and whether, in view of the fact that


these candidates were- desirous of making the Army a permanent


career, any arrangements can he made to cover the period between the


time when they leave school and the time when they will he called



up for military training.




Mr. Hore-Belisha replied: Yes, Sir, I am impressed hy the natural


disappointment which must he felt hy those who were desirous


of making the Army a career hy entering one of the military colleges

at the beginning r -f next year had the November examination not been


cancelled. It is proposed, then fore, that those who can produce

evidence that they were going to sit for the Army Entrance Examin-


ation in November, should, if they wish, he permitte-d to enlist at


the age of 19 or as soon as possible thereafter, instead of having

to wait until they r ,ach the normal minimum age of 20. They will


he nosted to Other Rank Training Units, and, after a period, if



they are recommended, they will he sent to Officer Cadet Training


Units with a view to appointment to emergency commissions. After


the war, those who are so appointed will he eligible, in common




with other holders of emergency commissions, for consideration for



appointment to permanent regular commissions.


 Particulars of the scheme will shortly he circulated to



headmasters and to parent or guardians concerned.
 28




No. 03 x SOLDIERS’ RENT ALLOWANCE.




 In the House of Commons on Tuesday.



 Mr. Sorensen asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is


 aware that in the last war an extra rent allowance of 3s. 6d. was




 automatically paid to all soldiers’ families resident in towns;

 and whether he will consider making the same arrangements, and


 also a sliding-scale special rent allowance on proof of rent paid.




 Mr. Hore-Belisha replied* During the lest war, an addition of



 sixpence a day was made to the separation allowance of families


 who were residing in the London Postal Area and not occupying


 public quarters. The additional allowance was not given elsewhere.

 The minimum rate of separation allowance was then 9s. Od. a week.



 In this war, the lowest rate of family allowance is 17s. Od. a




 week. provision has already keen made whereby claims arising

 out of such special circumstances as high rent may he met by the


 grant of special financial assistance. Nevertheless it is



 proposed to pay an extra sixpence a day to soldiers’ wives in the



 London Postal Area.
URGENT.



AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN 5/12/39 -

 N0,29.




 WOMEN "FERRY" PILOTS FOR NEW R.A.F. AIRCRAFT.

 (Not to he quoted as an Air Ministry
 Announcement. )


 Under a scheme now launched by the Air Ministry, women



pilots will he employed to "ferry” new R.A.F. aircraft of light


training types from the factory where they are made to an



aerodrome for storage, until they are required for service


purposes.


 At the outset, it is contemplated that only eight women



pilots will he employed. They will form a section of Air


Transport Auxiliary Service under British Airways, Ltd.


 Miss Pauline Gower, daughter of Sir Robert Gower, M.P.,

has been appointed to take administrative charge of the section.


A selection of which Miss Gower is member, is now
 hoard, a




proceeding with the testing and selection of applicants for


employment in this section.


 For the present, it is intended that the women pilots

will "ferry" one type of aircraft only. There is, however,


a possibility that the scheme will he extended at a later



stage, and that other types will he similarly "ferried” from



different factories, as the occasion arises.


 Salary will i>e paid to the women plus flying pay.


It is will release pilots for other
 hoped that the scheme men




duties.
 5/12/39 -
 M0.30.



 French Official Communique (Evening)



 The following official communique was issued this


evening by French G-.H.Q:

 The enemy attempted a number of raids which all



failed.
 31 may




 5.12.59 No.32.




 PRESS NOTION,




 The Netherlands Government have expressed their



gratitude for the splendid work in connection with the rescue



of passengers and crew of the s.s. "Simon Bolivar" and the



excellent care given to the survivors. They state "the


heroic work done by officers and men of the Royal Navy and

the magnificent reception to survivors will not easily

be forgotten". The Royal Netherlands Steamship Company

also expressed their deep appreciation of the many services


rendered by destroyers, mine sweepers and other vessels


engaged in the same rescue work.




ADMIRALTY,


 5th December, 1939*