Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-17
.MUN|T|ONEERs GETTING
BACK TO PEACE FOOTING
British Government Planning to Min
imizc All Unemployment as
fa. as Possible.
OVERTIME BEING ABOLISHED
Ministry Of Munitions Making Pro-
vision for Rcabsorption OF Workers
into Other Observation-Disclosures
Allowed Those Out OF Work.
BY CLAIR PRICE.


LONDON. December lG.--The vast
network OF munition making cstab-
ishmenta which have sprung up
throughout the United Kingdom to
Ice o9 inc armies are the first to feel
being announced for the gradual de-
mobilization of these factories and
'he transcription into civil life of their
me Work OF demobiliZing them has
already been planned out in it's broad
sir1 out,nes by by Nc Ministry Of Recon,
the Ministry of Munitions. with the
irnst-named ministry In direct charge.
thus far. Unemployment donations TO
extend over a period of six months.
nave been announced. and pending the
sale or the plants to private interests
plants su viii be kep, IL operation.
hhinge on capitalization have thus far
bcen merely hintcd at. The reabsorp-
lion OF the male workers in munition
: course Peace inc industries are ex-
pected to swallow them up in the
G G%sfse OF the coming transfer Of in;
become OF the vast majority of the
female munition workers is. however.
homes TO work. viii they be content
= 10 return to their homes? or will they
+. inslSt OF taking their plpces In the
world OF the workers? THIS is aues-
IGN which only time can answer.
ra mus .s, Ear; The Ministry OF Munitions
TO take effect from the date of the
signing, OF the armisticc in all fac
tories. bolh governmental and private
nov working on guns and gun ammu-
nitl9n machine guns. small arms and
small arm ammunition. trench mortars.
noinbs and bomb stores, pyrotcchnic
stores. aerial bombs. aircraft and aero
engines and explosives:
mere VIII bp no immediate general
WORKERS.
WORKERS who apply for discharge and
wheEa no VIII Sin bc DC , at once absorbed else
ABOLITION OF OVERTIME
TO REDUCE PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION Will be reduced by the
immediate abolition Of all overtime:
stead or "A production basis, for pay; by
inc reduction OF the number OF hours
IN the working week. and by the in
;T rbis ION or a scale OF minimum pay.
Eases where tho new working week
ialis below ne-half the wartime
lows: men over eighteen. $3.50 a week:
boys under eighteen, 1915 week;
women over eighteen. 1925 week:
girls under eighteen, SO "A week This
scale is to be maintained in both gov
ornamental and private factories. tn.
scale In the latter factories TO be made
mcnt.
Provision is made for the necessary
number OF discharges which must fol-
low upon the adoption OF half time
Every contractor is ordered specific
ally by the Ministry OF Munitions to
minimize unemployment. utilizing his
workpcople to cleaning up Jobs, for as
long l. time as is possible I'm allotting
this work" says the. ministry, pref
crencc should be given to workpeonlc
who are dependent OH Industrial en-
ployment."
The rehabilitation OF the factories
Is expected 20 result in large shift
n ns.,. tl.lt to-. ~
WORKERS have left their homes TO do
muni'ion work in distant ccntcrs. and
are now TO he sent back to their homes.
Transportation home il to be provided
by the ministry for all workers dis
charged or claiming release. Rail
way warrants for transportation to
thclr homes or to places of their new
cmpioymcnt arc To be furnished the
freed workers at the local employment
exchanges.
Further provision is made tor the
unavoidable period OF unemployment
winch must In some cases onsuc upon
jthe disqualification OF such a large
being made 10 minimize the growth
of abnormal conditions in the labor
market due to the release OF thousands
OF 'nuriton matters but II is recog-
nizcd that some abnormality In the
labor situation must ensuc.
For this condition the Minister of
Reconstruction. the Minister OF Labor
and the Minister Of Munitions have
adopted as temporary measure n
Scncinc ol uucmpioEncNt donations. the
full conditions OF which at present
writing have not yet been announced
TO Parliament. In gcncraL-however,
The scheme Is 10 exist fora period OF
six months from a date yet to be
announced by the Minister of RECON-
struction. and benefits under the
scheme can be drawn In cases where
temporary unemployment cannot be
tverted for u period of thirteen weeks.
Later a wider scheme ls to supplant
the present scheme. but the details as