MUNITIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 4 January 1916, Page 7

MUNITIONS

MR A.SQU ITU'S APPEAL TO LABOUIt (Official.) LONDON, Jan. 2. .Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd. George received a deputation from the Amalgamated Society of Engineers; Mr Asquith stressed the importance of -w hole-hearted devotion of labour on a large scale'; without which neither could Mr Lloyd George meet the necessities o! the war, nor the armies carry it on efficiently;. It was all-important that "W0 should" get the "required output domestically instead of from foreign sourees: A serious financial problem was the obligation to pay in, a share of exports to America for munitions supplied. Domestic production would, mean an incalculable gain in point- of view of military efficiency and financial stability. Nothing was more important than the manufacture of munitions on the largest possible scale find 'under tile best possible conditions. -Despite the March agreement dilution nad been sparingly adopted-DILUTION-SCHEME ACCEPTED BY ENGINEERS, ' LONDON, Jan. 3. - Mr Asquith added that it was undoubtedly! difficult to .persuade skilled men to forego' their privileges and admit unskilled men to their work, fearing that they would be unable to resort to the old conditions after the war. He exhorted the unions to use their 'utmost influence to remove these suspicions. The March agreement had not been effectively carried out in the nine months that had 1 elapsed. This matter was absolutely of vital necessity, Ms Asquith continued that conditional upon universal acceptance of the dilution and the settlement of all grievances union rates of pay and conditions of union rats of pay and. conditions of labour in Government-controlled "workshops. Thereupon the engineers resolved to accept the settlement and actively cooperate in the scheme of dilution. ;