NAVAL CONTRACTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 2 January 1912, Page 8

NAVAL CONTRACTS.

ADMIRALTY BUILDING TWO CRUISERS. A WAGES DIFFICULTY. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. United Press Association. London, December 29. The Admiralty announces that negotiations with northern shipbuilding amis for the construction on the I names of two protected cruisers and -i-irrinos, representing approximately the wage fund for battleships. Ihe anal decision is dependent on an arrangement between the northern him iml the Thames workmen. The con-n-act will not he accepted cm;apt on the basis of the same hours worked by other competitive firms—namely, ifty-three instead of forty-eight hours i week in the provinces and Lonaon espectively. Mr. Will Thorn, M l'., interviewed, objected to r .he latter lordition. Mr. Han I m ry, M.P., recommends die Government to purchase' and reorganise the Thames ironworks.

QUESTION OF HOURS. London, December 30. The Admirably is hopeful that the irrangement w : H he completed in the irst week of January. The only difleulty lies in the question of hours, is a House of Commons resolution •overs the district rate of wages. The Admiralty intimates that if the present negotiations are successful it will lonsidov favourably the letting of a vsi tract for the construction of two destroyers on the Thames also.