WAR MUNITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 67, 19 March 1915, Page 5

WAR MUNITIONS.

INCREASING THE OUTPUT. CONFERENCE WITH LABOUR. NO STRIKES ON CONTRACT WORK. LIMITATION OF PROFITS. LONDON, March 18. Mr Lloyd George presided at the national conference of labour representatives of the engineering, shipbuilding, coalmining, and transport industries, summoned by the Government to meet and discuss the Government's control of war material factories. Mr Lloyd George said it was essential to increase the output of munitions of war in order to save the lives of the soldiers. The Government would ask the workmen to agree that there would be no strikes where Government work was concerned, and also to suspend all restrictions on output during the war. ORGANISING INDUSTRY. Mr Lloyd George added that every country engaged had found the expenditure of war material in excess of any anticipations. The General Staff in France had mpt the difficulty by voluntarily organising the whole of the industries of tlie country. '*\Ve have an additional difficulty," said the speaker, '"by having to increase the personnel of the army tenfold during the duration of the war. Our Allies' success depends on our increasing and accelerating our output of munitions. Preparatory to last week's fighting- there was the most tremendous concentration of artillery witnessed at any point during the war. This not merely insured our success, but saved the lives of British soldiers." French officers had told him that the concentration of artillery.fire in one particular spot would ' enable the achievement of a military purpose with one-tenth the loss of life otherwise required. DANGERS OF DELAY. Mr Lloyd George continued that evenmonth's delay in the output might mean two.or three months added to the war. Prior to the organisation of British industries for war purposes, it was essential to have complete co-operation between employers and workmen. Tlie Government, in taking over the works, did not mean to instal a general or an admiral instead of the present managers. The Government proposed to impose a limitation of profits, because otherwise there would be a difficulty in appealing to labour to relax its restrictions; and labour would not put out its whole strength unless it knew that the State was getting the. benefit, and not merely a particular individual or class. TO SETTEE DISPUTES. If the Government .would merely assume control of a business aud guarantee that the profits would remain within a certain limit (continued the speaker), the employers would not have the same interest in limiting expenditure. Consequently the Government desired an understanding with the employers. But the present conference was to lay certain points before the representatives of tlie workers. At the present moment important work was liable to be interrupted by labour disputes. The Government did not say that the workmen ought never to complain.; but it did say that work should continue while the disputes were adjudicated 'upon. The - Government accordingly proposed that there be no strikes or lock-outs during the-,war where Government . work was ; proceeding, but that difficulties should be settled by an impartial tribunal, or as the conference might decide. . ; ■ INCREASING THE OUTPUT. '•The question of suspending the restrictions on output during the war waa difficult for the' workers," proceeded Mr Lloyd George, "but was very, very important to the State. There was a question as to the number of machines one man might be permitted to attend, and also questions relating to the employment of semi-skilled ■ labour, and of women. French women were doing a vast amoiint in the ammunition factories. The way France had met iier'rcsponsibilities was something whereof'- a democracy could be proud. The Government appealed, to the British" workers to do the same." _' ' . | •'Finally," _said the" "Chancellor, "there | was ( the mutter of excessive drinking among.a.minority of the workmen." The Admiralty and \\"ar .OjTtec reported that this was very serious, in some districts, gravely interfering with pie -output and transport of munitions',and other neces-' sary articles for the troops, the Government could not take effective'action without the support of the''labour leaders. Mr • Lloyd Gorge r -concluded: "At the end of this .war Britain, will either be the vassal of a German military caste, drunk with success,; or she will have done her.part in breaking militarism for ever. It is because we realise. J"ie importance of this to a democratic State that we appeal to the leaders of the workmen to assist .the Government." * The..conference was attended by Mr Asquith, Mr Balfour," Sir ; Francis" Hopwood (of the Admiralty Board), Sir George Gibb (who. .is largely, interested in, railways), and other officials representing the Admiralty and War Office.