Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 65, 19 March 1915, Page 5

Great Britain

QUIET TALK TO LA DOR.

LLOYD GEORGE AS DEMOCRAT. THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS tlMTfcu Pjtfess' AssdtiAtioff. Lohdoii, March 18. Mr Lloyd George, presiding at the Labor Conference, said it was essential to increase the output of munh tioiis in order to save the lives of our soldiers. The Government asks workmen to agree that there shall be no strikes where Government work is concerned, and also to suspend all restrictions on the output during the war in order to assist the Government in dealing with the excessive minority of workers. Mr Balfour, Sir R. Askwith, Sir F. Ho-pwood, Sir George Gibb and other officials representing the Admiralty, War Office, and the Board of Trade, attended the conference. Mr Lloyd George said that every country engaged in the war found its, expenditure on war material in excess of any anticipation. The General Staff in France had met the difficulty by voluntarily organising the whole of the industries of the country. “Wo have the additional difficulty of having to increase the personel of our army tenfold. The duration of the war, and even the Allies’ success, depend upon our increasing the acceleration of our output, of munitions. Preparatory to lust week’s fighting there was the most tremendous concentration of artillery witnessed at any point during the war. This not only ensured success, but saved the lives of British soldiers.” Mr Lloyd George continued: “Every month of delay in output may mean two or three months added to the war.” It was essential, he said, to have complete co-operation of employers and workmen. The fact of the Government taking over works did not mean that a general or admiral would be installed instead of the present managers. The Government proposed to impose a limitation of profits, because there would be difficulty in appealing to labour to relax restrictions and put out its whole strength unless they know that the State was getting the benefit, and not merely a, particular individual or class.

French officers had told him that the concentration of fire on a particular spot enabled the achievement' of their purpose with one-tenth of the loss of life otherwise required. Continuing, he said ; “If the Government were merely to assume control of business, and guarantee profits within a certain limit, the .employers would not have the same interest in limiting expenditure. Consequently the Government desired an understanding with the employers. But the present purpose was to lay a certain point before the representatives of the workers. At the moment important work was liable to be interrupted by labour disputes. The Government did not say that the workmen ought never to complain, “but we say that work should continue while the disputes are adjudicated upon. The Government accordingly proposes that there shall be no strikes or lock-outs during the war where Government work is proceeding, but the difficulties are to be settled by an impartial tribunal such as this conference may decide. The question of suspending restrictions of output during the war is difficult for the workers, but it is very, very important to the State. There is the question of the number of machines one man is permitted to attend, also the employment of semi-skilled labor and women. French women are doing a vast amount in the ammunition factories. The way in which France has met her responsibilities is something of which the democracy can be proud. We appeal to British workers to do the same. Finally, there is the excessive drinking among a minority of workmen. The Admiralty and Wai Office report that this is very serious in some districts, gravely interfering with the output and the transport of munitions and other necessaries foi the troops. The Government cannot take effective action without the support of the labor leaders.” Mr Lloyd George concluded: “At the end of the war Britain will either be a vessal of German military caste, which is drunk with success, or will have broken that militarism for ever. It is because I realise the importance of this as a democrat that I appeal to the leaders of the workmen to assist the Government.”

MINERS PREVENTING CURTAILMENT OF OUTPUT. (Received 10.5 a.m.) , London, March IS. The executive of the Miners’ Federation recommended districts to take the shortest possible holidays and thus prevent any curtailment of the output. MISCELLANEOUS. Unitku Prkss Association. London, March 18. The Hoard of Trade invites women to register themselves at labor exchanges as ready to do industrial, agricultural, and clerical work, and finis enable the Government to estimate the reserve force of woman’s labor. trained and untrained, available if required. The Board of Trade adds: “ I'he act oi a woman who releases a man does the nation at war a service.”

The Clyde engineers, by 5610 against 1522, decided to submit the wages ((uestiou to the Government Arbitration Court. Times and Sydney Sun Service. London, March 18. Homo states that as a result of the Hope's intervention Britain and Germany has agreed to exchange unfit civilians of all ages.