BRITISH FACTORIES UNDER THE STATE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2406, 11 March 1915, Page 5

BRITISH FACTORIES UNDER THE STATE

IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

ENGINEERING OUTPUT TO BE

INCREASED

(Rec. March 11,,1.25 a.m.)

London, March 10. The House of Commons passed a Bill applying the Defence of the Realm Act to all factories.

Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said that the Government intended to organise the whole of the engineering community for the purpose of increasing the output, and was looking out for • a strong business man. of push and go to carry the thing through for the duration of the war. Even the Allies' _ success depended on. this step. Tlie Bill would enable the Government to house workmen near the factories.

' Mr. Lloyd George added that the 1 Government's additional powers would help the employers out of difficulties which might be their experience if called upon to throw their all into the common stock.

Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Opposition) said that these-powers would go to the most drastic point ever submitted to tho House of Commons, and -if these tremendous powers were abused they would do incalculable harm to the country's industries. He was not prepared to oppose the Bill, for they must give the Government the fullest power over the country's resources.

Mr. Hodge (Labour) said that the Bill effected Labour's collectivist ideas, and suggested that workmen as well as employers should be .consulted on the details. The -unrest among the war ammunition workers was due to tho Government's unconscionable delay in settling disputes.

A hint of something of the above kind was heard from Mr. Lloyd George in his speech at Bangor recently, and later from Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons.. Each speech was delivered during the height of the Clyde engineering strike. Mr. Lloyd George, referring to the labour crisis, said:—"The employers and workers on the Clyde have been spending a fortnight in disputing, but we cannot afford this leisurely method. There is much to be said for and against compulsory arbitration, but during a- war the Government ought to have power to settle disputes. If tho workmen ought to get more, let tho Government find it out, and give it them. If nqt, the men must not throw down their tools. The regulations restricting the output ought to be suspended in war time, when battles are being fought; the workshops of Britain and France are equally battlefields. I am sorry to say that some of the workers are shirking their duty in this emergency, but a, small minority can throw the works out of gear."

Speaking in the Houso of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) said that the demand for war materials had cast a heavy burden on tho shoulders of tho manufacturers. Workers' differences, which ordinarily might justify a cessation of work, should not longer be allowed to do so. The first duty of all was to continue producing with might' and main what the safety of the State demands. The Government would ensure prompt and equitable settlement'of disputes, and would give all the aid in its power.

DEMAND FROM VICKERS'S YARD WORKERS. London, March 3. The employees of Violtors's shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness are demanding ss. a week increase in wages.