The sun., 1918-03-14
Construction Likely to Be
Taken From Admiralty
and Portfolio Created.
MUST INCREASE OUTPUT
Otherwise Submarines Will
Win War-Only 100000
New Tonnage in Sight.
Special Cable DespafcA to tbs sux.


LONDON, March 13.-The creation Of a
Ministry Of Shipping and the appoint
ment OF a practical shipbuilder as its
head. to have complete control OF the
production Of new tonnage, Is the solu-
ton the Government Is most likely to
adopt to meet the increasing threat OF
the submarine campaign.
1t is realized that the present organi-
alton Is inadequate to repair the failure
Of the shipbuilding programme. and that
1t is no longer possible for the Admiralty
efficiently to direct the construction Of
merchant shipping. According to recent
reports. the rate of output established in
the last few months must be very greatly
increased II England Is not to be beaten
by the submarines. In all human prob
ability, before the end of this year.
Slackness I'm Shipyards.
| The Germans are sinking merchant
! tonnage at the rate of 1000. 900 tons q
year On the figures OF the British out
! nut in January and February the new
| tonnage this year will not exceed 900. 900
: tons: before the war the shipyards un-
der private management produced 2.OOO.-
600 tons year.
These figures can be interpreted only
in one way. In view OF the Government e
statement that sufficient men. material
and yard capacity have all been avail.
able: that Is. there has been lack oi
! organization. teamwork and confidence.
1t Is now suggested that Lord Pirrit
or some other pra ctical shipbuilder who
possesses the confidence both OF the EN-
ployers and the workmen should be givei
untrammelled control OF the construction
Of all merchant ships and that the Ad
miralty conAno itself 10 the rasintenanc
Of warships.
There are $50 building lips availsAl
, for the construction Of cargo ships out
side OF the navy. which are ample for
tremendous increase in production X
settlement Is effected with the Admiralt.
as to the distribution Of labor.
II is the question OF labor which Il
causing the Government most concern
There are two sides to II. The head o
one OF the greatest shipbuilding com
panies at Newcastle insists that tn
,, slackness OF the shipyards Is due prin
c!pally TO high wages. Government In
. terference and bad leadership OF tn
men. He Gays:
"Slackness in the Tyne shipyards ha
average working week Il only forty
one hours including overtime. while u
I some other lines OF national tmportanc
4 men and women are working sevent
or eighty hours per week.
wOrkmen Make 400 weekly.
a II do not put ali the blame on tn
men there Is elackness among employ
era as we'll, but the men now ear
enough In a few days to support them
selves and their families comfortaoi
for the remainder OF the Week
"t-n.killed workmen who did not ear
! before the war more than 81 per wee
now make $25 to $sl. Skilled workme
>make 800 a week; such men. imam
that they can make money 80 easily
$ will not work the whole week. .,.n anu u
e extremely hig,, piece rates have resulte
. in lowered not increased output. as a
i unfortunate result Of the Government
:, ,nismanagement in granting 12'a pc
' cent. increase. a,
i "I nm not In favor OF limiting IN
amount the men earn, but would lowe
II thc niece rates so that the men ~oul
It rave To work a full week in order
i make high wages. In deaiins VII
II strikes the Government atutuue ha
= hsen disastrous It has actually mad
has also been bad leadership OF u
mems unions
Men Exhauated. says Labor Leade
The chairman Of the labor advisor
committee on the Tyne attributes u
sIac,;nes, OF the men to exhaustion. /
says; - ....
suits are produced. The men cann
-, work until 8 o'clock in the evening ar
- start again before s o'clock In the NOR
~ ing without breaking down.
% 1--WE simply cannot double our year
:. ou,nut before the war. which is VIII
=, we are told We must do, tn" m'
" would rather have overtime abo!ish'
!. and work for a reasonable wage, r.
~ " ,n.r,.,icicncy Of food under the new r
m u, t,on system is also cause OF unrc
,s among the men,"
W. The Newcastle correspondent OF q
. Do;Iv Erpress telegraphs that the ge
eraI slackness In the shipyards Is h
y, ter,y commented on there and Is &c
=. eralIv attributed to the high wages. q
=. spite the pressing needs OF the natt
~ there are many empty shipyards whe
.. men ought to be working to turn o
nt tonnage to defend their shores.