The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-19

Transforming munitions plants to
factories of peace is one of the
great problems of the moment
throughout the world. Steps taken
toward this end by Great Britain
were outlined recently by Winston
Spencer Churchill, Minister of
Munitions, at joint conference of
the Employers and Trade Unions
advisory committees in London. In
this statement Mr.. Churchill said:
thought It desirable to tell you the
progress which has been made by the
Ministry OF Munitions in their snare of
the great process of rehabilitation and
reconstruction. I think ! may say at
the outset that this progress IL good
In fact the difficulties which. on the eve
Of the armistice, appeared so very form''
dable have been found less serious than
we expected, and the inevitable evils
and inconvenience OF the transitional
period have not been severe.
When firing stopped on the western
front we were at that moment at ;he top
Of our form. We had reached the cul-
,ninating point in the output of war
bacterial of all kinds for the supply of
the armies. We had not only reached
the greatest recorded output ny volume
in every direction. but We had also a
whole series of terrifying novelties. some
az tile most intricate character, and
weapons and devices Of the most deadly
nature. which were in readiness to be
used by our troops In the campaign OF
1alS had 1t been necessary. Therefore
this Office was at full extension, strain
Ing like a runner IN a race as he ap-
proaches the goal.
During the war the Ministry OF NUM-
tons was organized to deal with the
Nutput of munitions for the army. That
task ended with the fighting, but In its
place another huge and intricate task
has devolved upon US The new task Is
threefold
The first new task Is the liquidation
O. contracts.
The second is rendering assistance OF
Various kinds TO firms to turn over from
ear industry to peace industry.
The third. which has only recently
been intrusted TO this department. is the
disposal of stocks of materials and stores
~ all kinds in every theatre of war and
for every department OF state.
Must Sell Billions in Material.
When l tell you that these stores and
other properties may amount to nearly
1000 millions (S5,oO0. 900, O00) in value
and when you realize that they affect
,very trade in the country. YOU will see
what a complicated business 1t will be
10 get the best prices for the ExcheQuer
without at the same time discouraging
bud dislocating the normal industries OF
the country and delaying their revival
through throwing great masses of new or
i,ar;!y worn surplus products upon the
market. 1t seems to me to constitute one
rf the most intricate business problems
tat has ever been set and 1t will GER
iainv not be solved BY any sweeping
lothod.
II Is in the light OF these three new
t4sks that l would ask you to consider
~. rehabilitation OF the headquarters
STAN al the Ministry of Munitions,
When the war was won more than
80 600 persons were engaged on the
eadquarters STAFF. Very considerable
reductions have been made and are
rHout TO be made in that number but,
m the other hand. the new duties, the
disposal of stores and the liquidation of
contracts. have reduced the total reduc-
ton which we have made and contem-
plate making.
still hope, and my intention is, that
= the end of January the total aggre-
rate staff will have been reduced by at
least 1000 persons, and I hope II may