FEDERAL SHIP-BUILDING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3114, 19 June 1917, Page 8

FEDERAL SHIP-BUILDING SCHEME

THE LABOUR PEOBLEM. Melbourne, May 24. An important statement was inado tonight by the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) u'itli regard to the proposal to establish the shipbuilding industry in. Australia. He • said:— "Prom inquiries made tho Goyernmeitt is satisfied that hulls of composite ships, as well as the engines, steam and internal combustion, can bo constructed in Australia, but the greatest difficulty is labour. It is obviously useless to embarE on a great enterprise such as this, which involves the expenditure of a verygreat ilsal of money, unless a, sufficient quautity of labour is available and prepared to carry on the' -nVwlr.. It has been decided to call a conference- of the unions interested in. shipbuilding, viz., boilerniakoi'B, sliiptsrigTits, and engineers, lit the earliest possiblo date, in order to invite their co-operation in. the establishment of the eliiptmilding industry in Australia. I havo no doubt that with their co-operation we shall bo able to establish this great industry and solve the problem that is every day becoming more acute, viz., scarcity of freight. I confidently hope that the conference, will be satisfactory, and that wo shall be able without any delay to commence operation;.. The enterpriso turns* upon this one point—with tlie co-operation of labour tljis great industry enn be successfully launched; without it,-the Government will bo reluctantly compelled to abandon any attempt to establish, it." ~

It is understood that an offer has already been made by pno firm to build lour vessels of 3000 tons each.