Lay-Off With Pay Saves Output

The British Motor Corporation last night averted a hold-up in production by laying off on pay 30 toolmakers whose employment at the tractor and transmissions plant in Birmingham was in dispute.

On hearing the news 116 other toolroom workers decided to call off a strike which had lasted three days and to return to work today. Interruption of production at the plant, which produces front suspensions and rear axles for all B.M.C. models, would quickly have affected other B.M.C. assembly plants. The dispute is between two unions. The strikers belong to the Amalgamated Engineering Union, and the 30 workers to the National Association of Toolmakers.