WHEELS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 5

WHEELS OF WAR

HOW TO KEEP THE MUNITION FACTORIES GOING

MR. LLOYD GEORGE AT LABOUR CONGRESS

TWO SIDES OF THE BARGAIN

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright , (Rec. September 10, 10.20 p.m.) London, September 10. Mr. Lloyd George (Minister of Munitions) received an ovation from the Trade Union Congress. In a speech, lie said: "I am grateful for the opportunity of unfolding the situation. You represent one of the most powerful forces in directing the country's life. With you, victory is assured: without you our cause is lost. I come here as the greatest employer of labour in the country; lam also a trade unionist. You pledged yourselves yesterday, as representatives of organised labour, to assist in the successful, prosecution of tilio war, and I am sure you meant it. I am here to take you, on behalf of the Government, at your word. The war has resolved itself into a conflict between the mechanics of the respective nations. I believe the British workman is vbo hotter of the two. More Unskilled Labour. "The Government has established sixteen national arsenals, and is constructing eleven men', and work t|iese old and new arsenals 200,000 more' un(ikilled men and women are. wanted. Tile, country is not being its best. It is entirely a labour problem, ond you can assist with your voice. So can the employers. I' am not going to spare tbe employers. (Cheers.) The_ machinery applicable to war material is not working night and day; only 15 per cent, of the machinery is working oil niSgllt shift turning out .cannon, rifles, and war material. With plenty of labour the factories would be occupied continuously. Think what material could be supplied. The problem is one not for destroying, but saving, the lives of our young-men."

Unions Can Help. If every skilled man were employed there would still never bo enough labour for the task in hand. The Government would be unable to equip tho army unless the trade unions helped in three directions. They must suspend for the war period all restrictions upon the best use of skilled labour by employing unskilled men under skilled supervision for oil work wherein highlyskilled labour is not absolutely indispensable. Secondly, suspend the practice of preventing men turning out as mucli work as cheir skill and strength permitted. Thirdly, there must be no stoppages in essential trades. Profits had been restricted and were being restricted. Practically tlio whole of the workshops employed on munitions were under the Munitions Act. Those under the Act embraced 95 per cent, of the labour engaged in these industries. Other Side of the Bargain. He : was going to ask an unpleasant question: Had iihe other side of the Bargain been kept? It had been maintained honourably in many cases, but far too many had not carried it out. If tho Government, when trying to do its best for the gallant fellows in the field was..hampered at every turn by little technical objections, it was impossible to do the work that the country demanded. He mentioned an instance where a restricted output was vitally needed, and asked: Will anyone defend that? (Cries of "No.") Ho had 110 more to say. That was exactly what he came for.

Several questions were asked and answered, and Mr. Lloyd George was thanked for his attendance and his speech. A Victory* by German Trade Unions. „"I want you clearly to understand," he said, "the problem to which' we. have set our minds in order. • to' equip our armies during the coming months to enable them to crack their way through to victory. The German workmen worked quietly, persistently, and without stint or strife through last autumn, winter, and spring. Then came a terrible avalanche of shot_ and shell, which broke the great Russian armies, and drove them back. "The German advanoe in Russia is a victory for the German trade unions. It was not Hindenburg or von Mackensen, but the workmen who won it. This war resolves itself into a conflict between the mechanics of AustroGermany and the mechanics of Great Britain and France, and the sooneer,we thoroughly understand this, the quicker will come the ultimate victory. I believe that the British workman is the better of the two,-if he chooses to put his back into it.

"At the present time we require 80,000 more skilled men, and in addition 200,000 unskilled men and women. AYe are not trying to displace skilled men'by unskilled. I was recently talking to Field-Marshal French, who said that he had never seen troops more fearless, more contemptuous of death, or more ready to face any odds than those he commanded. I am* hero to ask you to back them up. _ The Admiralty, War Office, and Munitions Department estimate that if the workmen for the period of the war Buspend their customs-for. keeping down their output, and increase their output by 30 per cent, in some places, 200 per cent, in others, that will make the difference between, victory and'defeat." MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND THE "DAILY MAIL." (Rec. September 10, 10.55 p.m.) London, September 10. 'At the Labour Congress, Mr. Lloyd George (Minister of Munitions) said he wished that the trades unionists would subject the "Daily Mail" to a shattering bombardment, and drop bombs upon the hard head of Lord Northcliffe.

LABOUR AND RECRUITINC. (Rcc. September 10, 10 p.m.) 1 London, September 10. The Trado Union Congress resolved that in view of the importance of the war issues to democracies, the Congress approves of' tho Labour Party's co-operation with recruiting. Ail amendment, urging that there should first bo obtained guarantees for adequate provision for disabled soldiers and tho dependents of tho killed, was defeated. Mr. 6. H. Roberts, M.P. (Labour), said that the Party had frequently discussed recruiting, favouring voluntaryism, but when an unprecedented situation arose demanding more recruits tho majority of the Party had accepted Mr. invitation to co-operate in a national recruiting campaign. The minority, when pressed for their alternative, declared for conscription. Mr. Seddon announced that Mr. Asquith, in acknowledging tho anti-con-scription resolution, promised Jiis careful consideration.

THE GOLD DELUGE IN AMERICA SHIPMENTS FROM AUSTRALIA 1 AND NEW ZEALAND. By Toleirapli—'Press Association—PonyrieM San Francisco, September 9. The Moana has arrived with 'arge ({old shipments intended for New York. Altogether eight million dollars' worth of gold has been received in the United States, ox Australia and. New •Zealand*