SHIPBUILDING IN BRITAIN.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14861, 7 September 1918, Page 5

SHIPBUILDING IN BRITAIN.

■ REDUCTION IN AUGUST;

(Australian and N.Z... Cable Association

and Reuter.)

London, Sept. 5. - Tlie Admiralty announces that the tonnage of merchantmen completed in the United Kingdom in August was 124,675, compared with 146,948 in ! July. The total for the twelve months to the end' of August was 1,512,064 tons. . Lord Pirrie comments on tlie reduction, which is partly attributable to influenza, while plans to increase the skilled labour in the yards were frustrated by events on the West front; but he was pleased to say there is early probability of a reduction in the present naval programme, which will result in the transference of men to merchant .shipping work. He is of opinion that the output will improve materially towards the end of the year.