SPEEDING UP SHIPBUILDING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 19, 8 March 1918, Page 8

SPEEDING UP SHIPBUILDING.

America (says a recent cable) is engaged in a colossal shipbuilding programme. Within a few weeks a great number of destroyers, merchantmen, and submarines will be building at Philadelphia and Boston shipyards. Since November the Government has converted a large barren island in the Delaware river into the biggest shipyard in the world, and has also created a town of 20,000 inhabitants on the island. This yard assembles parts manufactured at 1000 factories. It is anticipated that the island will turn out fifty ships of 8000 tons in 1918, and after September will finish a merchantman every two days.

In contrast to the speeding up of shipbuilding in America comes the statement made by Mr Bonar Law in the House of Commons. He said that the output of ships in Great Britain during January and February was very disappointing. This was largely due to labour troubles. The Government were informing the shipyard workers of the seriousness of the position, with the object of convincing them that their work was as vital as fighting. When they realised that there would be no complaints that shipbuildnng was decreasing because the men were not working their hardest.