SHIPBUILDING IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 106, 4 May 1917, Page 8

SHIPBUILDING IN AUSTRALIA

LACK' OF MATERIAL.

Mr. R. Bomphrey, the newly-ap-pointed manager of the State shipyards in Australia, will arrive shortly in Victoria, and will be asked to confer with union officials with a view of endeavouring to secure a satisfactory and lasting settlement of the labour dispute .with the Department. This dispute has been the means of retarding the progress of work in shipbuilding, but it seems that, even if a settlement is made, the operations at the^ yards will be very much restricted for some time, owing to the impossibility of obtaining suitable material for the construction of vessels of the size which the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Adamson) thought to have built. The Ministry, desirous of having some construction work done at the shipyards, asked Mr. Bomphrey and the Agent-General , (Sir, Peter M'Bride) to ascertain from the Imperial authorities whether : permission ' could be obtained to despatch to Victoria the necessary material for the hull and engines, boilers, and parts, for a standardised ■ cargo steamer of 3000 or 4000 tons gross, and to give the estimated cost. All facilities were available at the yards for the construction of the ship, but material was lacking. Lately, Mr. Adamson was advised by Sir Peter M'Bride that the Imperial authorities had 'expressed their appreciation of the offer, but that no material was, or, would be, available for some time. Although the hope was expressed _ that the Home authorities might see their way clear to provide material to a Government in preference to a private company, it was stated that no material whatever could be spared from Great Britain..; ■ ■