ARBITRATION AIDS BRITISH WAR OUTPUT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14596, 4 May 1918, Page 9

ARBITRATION AIDS BRITISH WAR OUTPUT.

COMPULSORY PLAN SPEEDS UP MUNITIONS PRODUCTION 3000 PER CENT. SAN FRAtfC'lSqO, March 24. Organised labor m Great Britain accepted the principle of compulsory arbitration for the duration of the war to j? peed up the production of munitions on March 17, '1915, and that action has increased production m three years by 3000 per cent., was the message brought to the trade unionists of San Francisco at a mass meeting m the Labor Temple !by Charles Duncan, labor member of 'Parliament and William Mosses, general 'president of the Pattern Makers' Union of Great Britain, Who arie touring this country at the invitation of Samuel Gompers, president of the American 'Federation of Labor, with the sanction of both the British and American Governments. At the conclusion of the addresses rverv man and woman- in the hall took the following obligation: ,'']T solemnly ;V>romise on my noilor Hihat I shall stand 'behind our Government and its and give whole-hearted support until ? aii honorable and permanent peace has been declared." "When the war began," said Duncan, "we hid ;guns at the front capable of shooting five shells a mitiute, Vfith an allowance of three shells a day. Now we have an almost inexhaustible reserve." He said that England's problem when war bepan, was production, and that America's problem now that she is m tho war is transpdrtation. "Ships and railroad equipment Can only be produced," he said, "by the loyal patriotism of labor." | "America, has not heretofore played a large part m the politics of the world." 'Duncan said, "but from now on will ■probably play a greater part m the world politics than any other nation." ; • "When this war is over there must be ! a great world federation to enforce peace." be said, "and America is the only force, on earth that can bring that [federation into 'being. If after all this Ijlood and ' treasury lias been sacrificed such an international tribunal shall have been established, 'then we 'will not hay» foueltt m vain." "If you want to see your boys return from 'over there' you imist get to them the things they need,' Vaid Mosses. "Unless you fully equip your men, you will be forced to face the same sacrifice's that we had to face when wo failecl to meet the emergency of a war for which we wore unprepared." Mosses told of the agreement between Lloyd George and the British Labor party bj' which union rules were suspended until the end of the Avar, and the concessions made by the employers to prevent injustice under the suspension of those rules. A production board was commissioned representing the Government, labor, and the employer, and this board has abso.lute power over capital and labor as it effects Government work. "Munition factories have increased from six to 10, 130 since the war began, and over 1,000,000 women are engaged m tlio industries," said Mosses.