The Cordova daily times., 1918-06-13

about by the shipping board through recognition of the principle that un- trained men can become skilled work men only through competent instruc- tion. One of the first tasks of the shipping board, therefore, was the creation of division of education and training, which has supervised the establishment of training centers and the development of instructors among the foremen and superintendents.
 Training of the various kinds of shipbuilders in the yards is accom- plished by putting the men to work on production jobs, under the super vision of yard instructor. This yard instructor has full charge of gangs while they are learning. The eff ciency of green gang under training will average about 80 per cent of fin ished workmen
 Yard instructors are skilled me- chanics trained in the teaching method This training is given in a training center, where the mechanic is given an idea of instructional man. agement, and how to get the instruc- tions across effectively
 The first training center was estab- lished at Newport News. To it were sent skilled mechanics, selected from the yards. They were given a six weeks course of training, eight hours a day. During the last part of this course they were obliged to spend forty hours in the actual handling of gangs of green men. Yard instructors are drawn from a variety of trades, such as rivetters, ship filters, ship carpenters, caulkers, etc.
 Twenty-two plants have sent men for training as yard instructors. Two hundred and sixteen of these men have completed their training, and "A are now in training
 In addition to the training center established in Newport News, there are now several others established at Hog Island, at Chester, Penn, at the submarine yard at Newark, N. J., and two special centers for the train tady, N. Y, and at New York city.
 So far thirteen yards have put in training departments. One yard in structor can train about 150 men each year. The per.od of training for a green man varies from two to eight weeks One yard already has trained enough yard instructors in the train ing centers to turn out weekly 300 skilled mechanics within the yard
 In addition to the training of green men, there exists the problem of talk ing men who already are skilled in allied trades, but have never worked in shipyards, and making them into shipbuilders. This is called a trade conversion course, and consists essen tially of determining what supplement tary work a skilled mechanic from the allied trades must have in order to give him the necessary knowledge to do shipbuilding work. Special in- structors are employed in number of plants to meet this situation.
 By training foremen and managers, the shipping board has been able to develop in a year the building of wooden ships, which had been long lost art, and workmen in many yards have increased in efficiency more than 25 per cent Where we have eff. cient management we have efficient workers" Chairman Hurley declared today. "You can't expect to have CT ficient workmen in an inefficiently managed shipyard, nor can you expect good results. Our shipyard workers generally are as fine body of mer as is engaged in any industry in this country. They are patriotic, in dustrious group, and while in many yards they are not as efficient as we would like to have them, they art learning daily and are increasing thei output. When the history of ou shipbuilding program is written th' really built the ships, will be th' men deserving of any credit that ma. be due"