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Worms & C°

Cardiff, 12th July 1917
Messrs Worms & C° - Paris

Dear Sirs,
Office staff.
Some 18 months ago when we saw that the war was going to be still longer prolonged, and that all young fit men would likely be called up, save these in reserved occupations, as filled vacancies with very young men, preferably with physical disabilities which would either caused them to be exempted altogether, or had already such status assigned them by the Military Authorities, and thanks to extra work all round fared more or less successfully with the work day by day; especially as the Lady Members of the Staff showed the benefit of their training with us by becoming more expert. However, on the 22nd/23rd May we had a nasty surprise from a friend at Headquarters, who warned us net to take additional Clerks into our employ, which as were on the point of doing, to cope with the extra business foreshadowed in your latter of the 18th ult., inasmuch as the Exemption Certificates they held might be rendered useless, by additional "combing out orders" which proved later exact. Despite the ominous outlook for as, we did not lose oar heads, nor engage people at the big salaries that were asked, because we though the scare would die down, and the fact that we having so much French National business to execute ought, and possibly would receive more consideration at the hands of the Military Tribunals than other people less fortunately situated; moreover, many businesses looked like shutting down, and for such reason we ought to pick up moderately experienced people on a business basis, and not on panic terms. Meanwhile we were invited to accept what is termed National substituted Service; that is to say, people of various Social grades useless to the Army had been given a month or even a little longer to find employment in Offices the Owners or Managers of which would release in return an equal number of their Staff, who might be more worthy and able to render efficient Service in one or other Branches of the State; for instance, we were pressed to take a Solicitor of 39 in most indifferent health in lieu of a very efficient Clerk, who we have been nearly two years training, to assist in passing releases of coal, dealing in minor matters with the Local Committee, as well as clearing ships during the night; all of which needs knowledge of the subject, rather than any great initiative or ability. We resisted such pressure and decided to take our chances with the Military Tribunals, before whom our first case was heard yesterday afternoon; with, we are glad to say, satisfactory results, for contrary to most others we obtained the longest exemption possible, viz., three months: one drawback being the obligation to join the Red Cross Local Service to help during the night, and sometimes the day with the Transport of Wounded Soldiers arriving or leaving the large number of Hospitals now locally operating. As the young men has only one eye; also a weak heart; you can see how vigorously the Military people are gathering in every possible recruit. They have even called up for immediate Service one of our Trimming Inspectors aged 40, although 12 months ago they practically relinquished such claim, owing to our contention that he was in a reserved occupation, and the fact that we had already lent to the British Crown services, his confrere, who they still retain. Whether this will suffice to-day, remains to be seen next week when his case will be heard. With the ever increasing demands of labour over trimming questions we can ill afford to lose his services. Two other indoor Clerks (case just cited is semi-indoor, semi-out) have had their Medical Status raised to such an extent as to bring them into the net set by the Military, that appeals to the Medical Boards are quite justifiable and are being prosecuted. Meanwhile we have secured the services of another Lady Shorthand Writer and Accountant, who comes to as from a large Bank early in August, and for a fortnight now a young man of 21 has been employed in our Offices, who understands Custom House work as well as Accountancy, on which latter he is presently engaged, farther, he is immune from Military service, having been discharged from same on physical grounds. Even with all this our clerical Staff will be very much below pre-war standard; for a young French Lady also latterly engaged hardly counts so far, owing to her lack of business knowledge.
A number of firms, we understand, are likely to close down all operations in the near future, and with possible members of the Staffs we are already in touch. Unfortunately none of them know any French and have other drawbacks, which hardly render them eligible; and really how we are to cope with the ever-increasing detail due to the recent edicts we hardly know; much less with the influx of business for the French Government, which you expect. The Authorities too seem to consider that they have a right in case of need, to anyone extra smart and intelligent, and we have already (successfully) had to ward off attempts of such nature. The Admiralty Offices here are mainly filled with requisitioned Clerks and Managers from Docks business & shipping firms, which is regarded favourably by the Clerks themselves, because of the hitherto immunity such employment has conferred. The loyalty of our staff under such temptation, in Writers opinion deserves every recognition, and we intend meeting same and the higher costs of living, which in Cardiff is nearly twice what it was, by granting a Bonus to cover the last six months, which we trust you will approve. Such Bonus will vary according to the Writer's appreciation of the respective services rendered, which of course will differ owing to the greater or less extra work they have been called upon to render. We need hardly say they deserve it; more especially as the transfer of domicile into a Building, which even to-day is unfinished, and although most commodious, is not yet conducive to normal working; for weeks past although supposed to be sound-proof, the noise of men working on the installation of the Lift has been disturbing in the extreme, for the War Office instead of releasing the one arranged for, and on the point of being fitted last August has substituted another, which entails the altering of all the concrete work throughout the building by the cutting of fresh "settings".
We hope very shortly this nuisance will abate, and we shall have some snap-shots taken, to give you some idea of our location, which we trust the near future will permit of your personally inspecting.
Awaiting your news,
We remain,
Yours very truly,

G. W. Moore