MUNITIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1915, Page 5

MUNITIONS.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. : . INTERESTING SPEECHES. ./- : 'iTIMES-."AND SIDNBI-i-SDN SERVICES.*] Received this; day at 8.30 a.m.'"v .' _ ••;■' .LONDON, June 30. / During the'debate in the House'of Commons on /riiiinifions, Mi*. Houston declared/that Mr ; Lloyd had the courage to disclose the fNth. He, however, feared that he had not disclosed all. We were shockingly and shamefully short of guns, big ammunition shells, and maxims. The. censorship was too stringent'and the country was,kept in shameful ignorance of the true facts'of the' case. The position was the most desperate; in ; the history of the; nation. ' . •' ,'

-Mr. J. Hobhouse said that the position was not desperate- The supply of munitions had increased 200 pei- cent, since August! National eoriipnlsiori was unnecessary as the vohmteer, system was sufficient, considering the illimitable resources of the natiori.

Mr., Lodge said that strikes during the war were Unthinkable.- Nevertheless the increased cost of living necessitated increased wages. The sacrifices of priceless trades unionism were a trifle compared with the sacrifices of the gallant men in the trenches. Now that the workers' realised the situation they would make a supreme effort to push on with munitions? They would rather give up everything than allow the Germans to be successful.

Mr, Sriowden protested at the trades unionists forfeiting their right's. Mr. O'Gracly held that the time had passed for academic details. Trades unionists had received numerous letters from the trenches appealing - to the workers to sacrifice their rules to enable the troops to get a fair show. Mr. Will Crooks, M.P.. in the course - of an interview, said that the Woolwich arsenal even now was working one-third below its capacity. Munitions, which might be made at Woolwich, were being made elsewhere. The Daily Chronicle, in commenting on thip, points out instances in which orders were promptly executed at Woolwich. The War Office gave orders without arranging for delivery in good time. SHRAPNELS. SHELLS. , HOW TO MAKE THEM. MELBOURNE. This Da-, iiie federal Government has now received the necessary secret information tor the making of shrapnel shells.