Manpower controversy
In 1915 it was becoming apparent that two campaigns are pulling against each other. Kitchener’s ongoing recruitment campaign was continually crying out for more men to enlist. On the other hand the country was crying out for more munitions factories and these required men also. The problem was being offset by the use of women to replace many men in the workforce, but this was only a partial solution. How could it be decided which men should enlist and which men were better placed working in the war related factories or essential services needed to keep industry running? In many cases it was the specific skill that a man offered which was the crucial factor. There had been much talk about ‘slacker’s and ‘cowards’ when referring to eligible men who had not enlisted but this was being too simplistic. Former Mayor of Halifax, Sir George Fisher Smith advanced the view (Halifax Guardian 29 May) that Halifax industry had already released as many men as it could without damaging its ability to continue operating. Others believed that too many men were ‘hiding’ in munitions factories either to avoid enlistment or simply because the pay was good. In an effort to find answers to these many questions the government was putting a bill before Parliament for the collection of a National Register of all males between 15 and 65 and their occupations. It was to be administered like a census. The government emphasised that it was to help them make informed decisions about who should be doing what. Many people believed there was a more sinister reason. Perhaps the government was collecting the information in preparation for the introduction of compulsory military service. Was conscription on the way? (Had the Halifax public been previously duped by two fake Irish comedians?). Would the description ‘Act of Distinction’ have the public queuing half way round the block to find out what Norman Field actually did? Then there is Doris. Ah, Doris, who is snappily called ‘the Wonderful Violinist’. I rest my case! Dancing to Crawshaw’s Band at the Halifax Zoo (who’s the King of the Swingers?) conjured up many images as the master of ceremonies, Mr James Follett came from the Aquarium Ballroom, Scarborough, (dressed in his usual attire of eye mask, snorkel and flippers!). fragments were, available they had been in great demand. As the fragments became in short supply they had to manufacture them to satisfy demand, in fact one tailor had made a healthy £300 from the sale of fragments. seen carrying a basket with 14 birds inside; the 15th was in Dawson’s pocket. Both men had permits to keep pigeons but not to carry them. Dawson did not know about the permits saying he had bought them cheap to make pigeon pie which turned out to be quite expensive as he was fined £2. Unlit vehicles, cruelty to a 3 legged horse, and dogs without licences were normal cases through the courts but what about stealing rhubarb? Not wagon loads of the delicacy but ‘a stick’ yes one stick of rhubarb. A police officer found two youths in possession of a stick of rhubarb near to allotments where they had received a number of complaints regarding damage to market produce. The stick of rhubarb cost the youths 6 shillings each in fines, another expensive, albeit small, pie. eve of the 4 August 1914 but only the second of its kind came before magistrates thiss week. B Lazarus, 15 Brunswick Street was summoned for failing to keep a register of alien lodgers. Registration forms had been filled in by three alien lodgers, two Russians and a Chinaman. Mr Lazarus said in his defence that he was a Russian Jew and could not read English. The magistrate believed his explanation but said it was a serious offence and fined him 12s. march past the sentry who had to solemnly “present arms”. The Belgian people who witnessed the musical interlude and knew about English military bands thought they were being serious and that it was quite an acceptable sound. By the time this letter was published,Trevor Emrys Morgan had already been wounded in the knee and had begun the long journey through the medical system that would eventually take him back to England. After the war he returned to the Halifax Courier and later became its Chief Sub-Editor. He remained there until his retirement in 1959. His letters, newspaper clipping and notes were rediscovered in 1973 and were published in a book titled ‘Every Reason to be Cheerful’. Copies can be obtained by contacting Ruth Bellairs (the book’s editor) at Heathcote, Honey Tyne, Colchester, CO6 4NY.