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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0560.PDF
opposition to greater output whether by dilution of labour or otherwise, being able to hold good for but a week, is a very trenchant argument in favour of the powers under the Defence of the Realm Act being brought into operation, if only in the interests of the very body of men who are so short-sighted and obstinate as to fight against their own interests. On all sides there is clear evidence of the helpful work which has been possible by the organi sation of the unskilled workers and their introduction into the factories for some particular job. Particularly in most of the " shops" female labour has been found entirely suitable and productive of the best results. How it is possible, therefore, under the present conditions that resistance from the men can still obtain is almost beyond understanding. When once the position is really grasped by the men, however, it is gratifying to find that they respond in the only possible way, and the thanks of the nation are due to those statesmen who are bringing their personality to bear in inducing the masses to appreciate the true state of affairs. It was almost entirely due to Mr. A. J. Balfour that recently the Clyde difficulties were smoothed over, and this principle of dilution recognised as a temporary war measure. Mr. Balfour's arguments, which were unanswerable and brought about peace in the Clyde yards, were put forward in a letter for the benefit of the malcontents as follows:— " The serious shortage in the number of skilled men available for Admiralty work is causing the Board of Admiralty much anxiety. There is one way, and only one way, in which this evil can be mitigated, namely, by what is called the dilution of labour. This, through the patriotic co-operation of the skilled men, has been applied with the greatest success in the engineering shops in the Clyde district. It is all important that it should be extended as soon as possible to the shipyards also, and the Commissioners appointed for the purpose have accordingly been requested to undertake the necessary arrangements with all possible expedition. " I should be glad if you will convey both to employers and employed my sense of the urgency of this step. During the period of the war nothing short of an ample scheme of dilution will meet naval requirements and secure national safety. " I have watched with close interest and high apprecia tion the loyal way in which the skilled men on the Clyde have assisted dilution in the engineering shops. I do not for one moment doubt that their patriotic example will be followed by those engaged on national work in the shipyards." The desired result followed this appeal of the First Lord of the Admiralty, and it is to be hoped that with the smoothing out of the Barrow episode, the last of this insane and unpatriotic agitation has been heard. In regard to the willing work of women, it is highly un generous for difficulties to be put in the way of their co-operation, in view of the splendid record which they have already achieved in almost every direction. The tribute on Monday of the Postmaster-General to their level-headedness under trying conditions was well earned. Said Mr. Pease, in giving a resume of the past work of the Post Office : " When the Zeppelin raids have been anticipated, sometimes when they have been going on, the women have come out of their homes to their work— even when bombs were dropping. They have played an important part in the scheme of air raid warnings, and have set a very good example to the whole country." It is not only under fair weather conditions that woman, as " diluted " labour, has made her mark, but wherever her efforts have been allowed proper scope, it has been JULY 6, 1916. found that the many supposed objections to her doing her bit for the country have very quickly melted into thin air. Once more, therefore, we urge one and all manu facturers to study this great scheme of diluted labour to its utmost length, so that there may be no possibility of finding the supplies of munitions—and in this category is included aircraft—falling short, just at the critical moment when the call may prove to be more urgent than ever for completing what we all hope for presently—a sweeping and unequivocal victory for Great Britain and her Allies. There is a Central Advisory Committee department on Women's War Employment at the Board of Trade, Whitehall Gardens, and anyone interested in promoting its objects will find it well worth while getting into communication with the Executive Chairman. It is not only a patriotic movement, but a commercial pro position in addition. • • * An echo of the Government Insurance Aircraft Scheme against aircraft risks was heard in Insurance. ^ Houge ^ Monday when Mr j_ A Pease, in dealing with the Post Office Vote, made a short statement in regard to the result of the policies for small sums, ranging from £25 to ^75 each, which, under a special arrangement, are available for taking out at any post office in the Kingdom for a very small premium. The amount of business done under the larger scheme may well be imagined from the figures of these small policies, which have proved such a source of comfort to the many less wealthy owners of either furniture or dwellings. Policies within the range already mentioned aggregate no less than ;£j,600,000, taken out by 168,000 individual owners, the premiums amounting to ^10,000 per annum. These figures go up to June 21st last, and from a question put by Mr. Wing—an appropriate name to be associated with anything pertaining to air work—the amount of disbursements for damage done may shortly be available. Perhaps one will then be better able to estimate whether the announcement made some little while ago by Mr. Runciman, that although he did not propose to increase the rates for this class of insurance, he thought it would not be wise to reduce them, was founded upon too conservative a margin or no. It would not, even if the fund be not drawn upon at all, perhaps, be opportune to probe this little matter too deeply, as after all, the premiums received all help to reduce taxation in other directions for paying the cost of the war, and each individual holder of a policy cannot but be thankful if he is not called upon to impinge upon the accumulated funds. " FLIGHT " will be the more pleased for both reasons, the greater balance there remains for the National Exchequer when a halt is called, by reason of the whole scheme being the creation of this journal. Our original demand in September, 1914, was for the scheme to be a National liability to compensate for all damage done by aircraft raids, or failing that view being taken by the Government, then to be made a National asset, by the inauguration of a National Insurance scheme with a low popular premium. The latter alternative was selected by the Cabinet in July, 1915. We can imagine that there is still likely to be an appreciable increase in new policies—in most cases, in all probability, when too late—as it is hardly conceivable that the " Germ Huns " will fail to make some further efforts to wreak their rage and venom upon the inhabitants of these Isles, even if only by way of expiring spasms of unsatisfied hatred. Although in that case they might find that . but that is another story.
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