MUNITION MINISTRY’S WORK.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1918, Page 1

MUNITION MINISTRY’S WORK.

THE TASK IX HAND. London, Dec 24. Mr Churchill, 'Minister of Munitions, addressing a conference of the Trade Union Adyisory Committee and employers, saicl that when tiring ceased on the West front six weeks ago the Ministry of Munitions was at the top of its form, and had reached' the' culminating point of output. It had a vast series of terrifying novelties in readiness for the 1919 campaign. But suddenly the task was swallowed up in victory. The Ministry was gradually relaxing control, stimulating alternative production, and avoiding throwing masses out of employment. The task was three-fold: Firstly, the liquidation of contracts; secondly, assisting firms to convert war work into peace industry; thirdly, the disposal of material and stores in the war theatres which were worth £1,000,000,000. The munitions effort culminated in the discharge on fifteen successive days on the West front ot 12,000 shells daily upon the reeling, quivering German front. The average shell production for October was 47,000 tons weekly. The Ministry was reducing the headquarters’ personnel, and relinquishing the commandeered hotels. It was estimated that at the end of next week 230,000 workers would have left the munitions Depart men t. Already 20,000 out of the inspection staff of between 40,000 and 50,000 women had been released. Within a few days of the armistice the majority of the restrictions on material had been swept away to enable the diversion to peace purposes to be carried out. During the war the Munitions Department had used practically all available steel. Therefore the dislocation of the engineering shops are inevitable for some months, but there was no reason to apprehend a shock or set back for the steel industry. British steel works were already fully occupied. The fixing of home prices, coupled with the gradual removal of subsidies, had steadied the "iron and steel trades. Large Government stocks ot nou-terrous metals had been placed on the market at fixed prices, calculated to encourage trade. The Ministry was doing its utmost to develop alternative industrial production during the transitional period. An effort was being made to obtain orders from the. Government Departments; also from the Dominions. He urged every man to find a peace job. If all would pull together with the same loyalty as during tire period ot great anxiety, the great industries would soon resume their natural activity.