(PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMPERING THE FLEET

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 105, 5 May 1915, Page 7

(PRESS ASSOCIATION.) HAMPERING THE FLEET

THE EFFECT OF LABOUR DIFFICULTIES. LETTER FROM SIP. JOHN JELLICOB LONDON. 4th May The White Paper issued contains a letter from Sir John Jellicoe. which says ] thai, owing to the uneasy labour situation at the Clyde and Tyne, he had sent a telegram or two late/y. It might be thought that he was exceeding his sphere of action, but the efficiency of the Fleet was affected, and he felt it hie duty to do something. One officer reported to him that tho I situation at the Clyde was most disquieting. The men rr fused altogether to work on Saturday afternoon, and they lay off on Wednesday afternoon weekly. They worked on Sunday because they got double pay, but only worked in a halfhearted manner. Destroyer dockings and refits were delayed in every case owing to labour difficulties, and the work took twice as long ac was necessary. Rear-Admiral Frederick Tudor supplies a statement showing the effect of excessive drinking on the output cf shipbuilding, repairs, and the making of munitions. He says,, that the position is that while the country is at war the men are. doing lees than, ia regarded as an ordinary week's work during normal conditions. The problem is not now to increase the normal peace output, but how to get the men to do an ordinary week's work of 51 to 53 hours. Tho lea-sons, for the loss, of time are various. It is abundantly cleav that the most potent factor* are the facilities , which exist ' for tie men to obtain-

spirits, the high rate of pay, and the abundance of employment. Opinions on these points are practically unanimous.