Luton, in common with other big centres of industry, had its Munition Bureau open for business at 6 pm on Thursday, and the little group of men gathered outside the Town Hall was early proof that there was available in the town some skilled labour such as is urgently required for the production of munitions of war and which was not already engaged on such work.

The great majority of engineering workers in the town, of course, are already engaged in the production of war supplies, though not necessarily munitions, and they are affected by the new scheme, the object of which is to get into munitions factories those men who are not already employed in this way and who can profitably be so employed.

The Town Council on Tuesday agreed to provide necessary office accommodation for a bureau, and in doing so they were taking the line which is being generally adopted throughout the country. The Town Council has all through been the centre from which recruiting work has been carried on and, now there has come a demand for recruits for the workshop as well as the Army, the local authorities are taking the only course they could properly adopt in providing the necessary accommodation for this newest effort.

Like Army recruiting, it is to be carried on seven days a week, but it has been decided that the office shall not be during the ordinary working hours. Accordingly, men who wish to have their name placed on a register for employment in the production of munitions should not that they will be welcomed between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, Mondays to Fridays, 4pm to 6pm on Saturdays, and 3pm to 6pm on Sundays.

The little group waiting outside the Town Hall for the bureau to open was considerably augmented later on, and somewhere about 50 eligible men attended during the evening, including men of the trades specially required. These are platers, rivetters, drillers, shipwrights, and others skilled in shipyard work; toolmakers, toolroom workers and gaugemakers; tool setters and setters-up; millwrights; turners; fitters; capstan and turret lathe operators; skilled metal machinists and other machinists, lead burners, coppersmiths and engineering employees generally.

So that the men who are wanted to "line up in the factory line to supply the firing line" may know they are urgently wanted, the help of the Boy Scouts has been enlisted locally for the distribution of the information literature to the houses of the workers.

It is not possible for a man who enrols at Luton to be told on the spot where he will be sent to work, as this depends on the needs of the moment. But the conditions under which he will be employed are very plainly set out.

Volunteers enrolled sign an undertaking to accept employment on making munitions of war in any controlled establishment to which they may be sent, and to remain in this employment for a period not exceeding six months. The conditions of the contract between the worker and the State are clearly stated in the form of enrolment. It is provided:

1. The rate of wages paid will be that of the district to which the workman is transferred, provided that if in any case the workman proves that this is less than the rate he was receiving before enrolment, he shall be entitled to receive such higher rate.

2. The workman will receive over and above his wages the following allowances:

a) If brought from a distance beyond that which he can reasonably travel daily, railway fare at the commencement and completion of the work for which transferred; and, where necessary, subsistence allowance at the rate of 2s 6d per day for seven days per week. It is clearly understood that the subsistence allowance is not intended to enable any workman to make a pecuniary profit.

b) If within daily travelling distance (not exceeding half an hour) the cost of workman's tickets.

Subsistence and travelling allowances will be paid by the firm employing the workman with the wages.

3. The workman may volunteer for a further period of employment after the completion of the period for which he is required in the first instance.

4. Any workman transferred from employment under this undertaking shall, if found suitable, be guaranteed employment during the war for a period not exceeding six months.

The worker has also to subscribed to the following agreement:

"I agree that any breach of this undertaking may be dealt with by a Munitions Court, consisting of a Chairman appointed by the Minister of Munitions, with Assessors equally representing employers and workmen which may, if it thinks fit, impose a fine not exceeding £3."

When a man has been enrolled he will be notified as speedily as possible where his help is required. It should be understood that for this scheme the services of amateurs are not asked, and no man working on war contracts need apply. The desire of the Ministry of Munitions is to secure skilled workers who are present engaged on commercial work.

The Headquarters Committee have issued through the trade unions to the men in the workshops who are not engaged on munition work a circular asking for a careful study of the posters and advertisements giving details of the scheme of voluntary enrolment, and expressing confidence "that the men in the workshops will show the same devotion and loyalty as their fellows are showing in the trenches".

So far as Luton is concerned, we understand that steps are being taken to secure the co-operation of trade union leaders, and that for this purpose a meeting is to be held in a night or two.

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph, June 26th, 1915]