REMAKING BRITISH INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 6

REMAKING BRITISH INDUSTRY

FROM BAYONETS TO PLOUGHSHAKES. That the world ot' British industry is being rapidly and thoroughly made over is a statement mado by ''The Times" (London, Apnii 17), and quoted with approval by Trade Commissioner H. 0. jirock in a communication from that city printed in "Commerce Keports" (Washington, May 31). Says this publication: "From ono end ol the country to the other munition-factories are being closed, dismantled, and then adapted and refitted for the work of peace, the British manuiacturers are silent during the period of transition. The manufacture ol Stokes's bombs has given place to tho production ol ploughs and spare parts for agricultural machinery; in the southern English counties munition-factories are now turning out dynamos, electric fittings, 'art' bronzes, drop stampings, oil-engines, and even lacs; in the north a cast-iron shell*, foundry has been refitted for the manufaeturo of railway material, castings for marine engines, aud col'.iery plant; still another munition-factory is now occupied with the manufacture of wire-rope machinery. One firm has reverted from bombs to railway appliances and signalling apparatus, while bombs made in Yorkshire have given place to gas and steani pipes, general shipyard castings, and buiklors' ironmongery, and shrapntiish>ll production to the manufacture of railway wagons. Bottle-making is absorbing another ex-munition firm, and civilian standard clothing has replaced the weaving of khaki o'.othj East Midland munition factories are produoing woodworking and agricultural machinery, pumps, sew-ing-machines, cranes, and electrical plant. In other eases, German industries, such as sugar machinery, boot-iacos, paper doilies, and fishplate papers have been undertaken; m the northwest there is abundance of work in connection with ship repairs and general wheelwrighting. One firm has passed from making 13pounder high-explosive shells to propellers for motor-launches and small steamers, while yet another shell plant has turned to the manufacture of oil-cake. A certain firm is said to be specialising in brick-making, which is ultimately expected to provide considerable employment, and another is converting left-over fuse cases into ornaments by the simple process of adding three legs and a coat of electrocopper. In the London district a smnlTl-arms manufacturer is now producing a hay nnd straw-baling press, another lias settled down to the manufacture of food machinery, while aircraft companies aro trying tu develop the industry on commercial lines. In South Wales a firm has adapted machinery associated with the Sliest precision war-work to tho manufacture of micrometer gauges of an improved type. In Scotland the progress from, war to penco is likewise proceeding at an active pace. One firm is_ noyr specialising in the manufacture of inter-nal-coinbustion engine? suitable for fish-ing-boats, a olasa of machinery mainly imported before the war. In the northeast a munition factory has turned to the manufacture of chocolate-making intw ehinery, an industry formerly claimed by Germany, whi.'e in Glasgow toy-making has superseded war material and gives employment to numbers . of discharged soldiers."