The problem of ╥football absenteeism╙ has been particularly serious in the Birmingham area this week, cup-ties drawing 65,000 spectators to Villa Park on Tuesday and 40,000 to St. Andrews Park yesterday.
For two days many factories have reported considerable numbers of absentees, and at the Hamstead Colliery the cup-ties caused a drop in output. One local firm has a successful solution of the problem ╤ to give the men time off for matches on condition that they return to work later and make up the time lost. The men have agreed, and on the occasion of two mid-week games they all kept to their side of the bargain.
